
KIMBALL WEBSTER 



HISTORY 



OF 



HUDSON, N. H 



FORMERLY A PART OF DUNSTABLE, MASS.. 1673-1733 

NOTTINGHAM. MASS., 1733-1741 

DISTRICT OF NOTTINGHAM, 1741-1746 

NOTTINGHAM WEST. N. K, 1746-1830 

HUDSON, N. H., 1830-1912 



KIMBALL WEBSTER 

r 

EDITED BY 

GEORGE WALDO BROWNE 




MANCHESTER. N.H. 
GRANITE STATE PUBLISHING CO. 

19 13 



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£4 






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Price, $3.50 



DEDICATION 



TO THE INHABITANTS 

OR FORMER INHABITANTS 

OF THE TOWN OF HUDSON 

ESPECIALLY ALL THOSE ANCIENT PIONEER 
FAMILIES THAT WERE SETTLERS 

IN OLD NOTTINGHAM 

WHEREVER AT PRESENT LOCATED 

THIS HISTORY 

IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED 
BY THEIR FRIEND OR KINSMAN 

THE AUTHOR 



INTRODUCTION 



It has been said that to write a good town history was 
the work of a lifetime. It requires, beyond question, just 
as other tasks exact, a great amount of patient research 
and careful study in order to accomplish satisfactory re- 
sults. The haste with which some works of this kind are 
prepared prove in their failure the truth of this statement. 

While the writer of this History of Hudson cannot 
claim as much for his undertaking, yet he has been collect- 
ing data relating to the town, to some extent, for a great 
many years. At first he had no thought of attempting a 
work of this kind, but possessing a historical temperament 
he prepared such historical material as he thought would 
be useful to some one who might attempt to do it. 
These early gleanings and savings eventually reached a 
porportion which seemed to make the compilation of a his- 
tory, if not easy, at least within his grasp. 

In December, 1884, while canvassing the county of 
Hillsborough, N. H., for a history to be compiled and pub- 
lished, D. Hamilton Hurd, Philadelphia, suggested that I 
should prepare a brief account of the town of Hudson for his 
work, to be published as the sketches of the other towns 
were to be given. He allowed me twenty pages of space, 
but before my article was finished I found I had material 
enough for more than double that number of pages. Mr. 
Hurd finally allowed me twenty-five pages, which were 
filled with solid historical matter. My part of the work in 
the book was almost entirely a labor of love, the compen- 
sation being very small. 

It is possible this effort was an unconscious stimulant 
towards causing me to attempt a more ambitious work. 
1 



2 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Until that time, and for some years since, my life has been 
a very busy one. However I might have seen the neces- 
sity of a comprehensive town history of Hudson, or what- 
ever willingness I might have felt towards undertaking the 
task, I could not find the time to accomplish it. Still, an- 
ticipating that some one, if not myself, might in the future 
carry out the work, I felt it a duty I owed the citizens of 
Hudson, and especially to the early settlers, including sev- 
eral of my immediate ancestors, to treasure up and preserve 
all of the valuable and interesting local incidents that I 
was able to discover. Accordingly I made copious extracts 
from the early town records, including all of the births, 
marriages and deaths, arranging each item alphabetically, 
so as to be easy for reference. I copied the laying out of 
the highways, the tax lists, as far as could be found during 
the first century, and transcribed the inscriptions found in 
the cemeteries. I also copied the records of all the most 
important business transactions of all the town meetings 
held in town, until I had the substance of the records of 
Hudson in my own office. Nor did I stop here, but I 
thoroughly investigated all of the church records I could 
find and copied and arranged them for ready reference. 
This placed within my use all of the records of Hudson 
as far as it was possible. 

In addition to these collections of official and personal 
facts, I conversed with many of the most intelligent aged 
people of the town, who many years since passed away. 
In these ways, and other opportunites that came my way, 
for more than thirty years I collected and arranged the 
material, much of which has been embodied in this work. 

And yet, until recently, or within a few months, I did 
not expect to ever accomplish the task of the publication 
of a town history, but the opportunity came and I improved 
it. No attempt has been made to prepare genealogies of 
the different families, but considerable history of the older 
families has been given ; enough, I trust, in many cases to 
materially enable the descendants who wish to trace their 



INTRODUCTION 3 

lineage. In writing this work my chief aim has been to be 
accurate as far as lay within my power. That errors have 
crept in is inevitable, but I cannot help thinking that, as a 
whole, the book will compare favorably with others of its 
class. The book has grown to larger proportions than was 
really intended at the outset, but from the abundant material 
at hand, I did not feel like omitting any considerable portion, 
so it must must meet public recognition as it stands. 
Aware of its imperfections, I hope there will be sufficient 
of common interest and value found to make it an accept- 
able product. 

My thanks are due to those who have so kindly assisted 
me in one way or another, and not least among these I wish 
to speak of Messrs. C. E. Paine and C. W. Barnes for the 
photographs they have so kindly furnished to embellish 
the work. My thanks are also due to Elwin O. Hathaway 
for assisting me in the preparation of the map, which lends 
additional value to the text. 

So, not without some hesitation and a few misgivings, 
this history is offered to the present inhabitants of Hudson, 
many of whom are descendants of those early settlers who 
broke this wilderness, and long since passed to their re- 
ward. They were honest, rugged, true-hearted men and 
women, and it is impossible for us to know so much of 
them as we could wish. They labored faithfully and well 
for the common good, as they saw it. They builded even 
better than they knew. All honor to the memory of those 
worthy pioneers. 

K. W. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 



CHAPTER I 

17 
Natural Features 

Boundary-The Merrimack River-Wicasuck Island- Surface of the 
Town-Soil-Forests-Early Meadows- Pioneer Families- Stone 
Walls-Denizens of Forest and Stream-Deer Wardens -Fish 
Wardens-Ponds-Sawmills-Water Power-Agriculture. 

CHAPTER II 

... 26 
Aboriginal History 

Tribes of Indians-Pennacook Confederacy-Character of Three Great 
Sachems-Farewell of Passaconnaway-Petition for Land to Gov- 
ernor Endicott-A Niggardly Recompense Made to the Aged Peti- 
tioner — Brenton's Farm. 

CHAPTER HI 
When Hudson Was a Wilderness 35 

Descendants of P««»^«^ WoiB ^^^^^ P ^ 

for Relief-Professes Religion-King Philip's War-Good Service 
of Wonnalancet-His Plight and Lonely Fate-Changes Wrought 
in the Landscape by the Woodman's Axe. 

CHAPTER IV 
Dunstable in the Indian Wars 

King Philip's War Followed by King William's War-Dunstable the 
Outpost Through Half a Century of Conflict-Queen Anne s War- 
5 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Prayer of Cotton Mather — An Interval of Peace — Towns in New 
Hampshire Chartered — Scotch-Irish Appear on the Scene — Indian 
Depredations Are Renewed — Norridgewock Expeditions — Father 
Rasle Slain — Settlement of Indians at Pequawket Demand Atten- 
tion — Bounty on Indian Scalps Increased — Fatality of Lt. French 
and His Party at Nashua — Loss of Life in Old Dunstable — Love- 
well Deposition. 



CHAPTER V 
Lovewell's Men 60 

The Lovewell Expeditions — Names of Men in Last Scout — Journey to 
the Saco Valley — The Ossipee Fort — Surprise of Roth Friends 
and Foes — Opening of the Memorable Fight — Death of Captain 
Lovewell, Frye and Others — Paugus Slain — Cessation of Hostili- 
ties — The Dreadful Retreat — Colonel Tyng Sent to Relief of Fugi- 
tives — Summary of the Ill-Fated Battle. 



CHAPTER VI 
First Settlers of Hudson 74 

The Hills Grant — Danforth Survey — Boundary of First and Second 
Tracts—" Hills Meadow"—" Burns Hill"— Joseph Hills— His Fam- 
ily — Disposition of his Estate — Three Sons — Their Families — Hills 
Garrison — Thomas Blodgett — and Descendants — Taylor Garrison 
— Taylor Family — Taylor's Falls — Fletcher Garrison. 

CHAPTER VII 
Grants and Counter Grants 88 

The Boundary Dispute — Grant of Old Dunstable — Grant of London- 
derry — Character of Scotch-Irish — Names of First Comers — Wheel- 
wright Deed. — Industries of Scotch-Irish — The Londonderry Claim 
— Pioneers of Rival Towns — Petition of Certain Inhabitants to be 
Set off into a Separate Township — Charter of Nottingham — First 
Town Meeting — First Tax List. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 

CHAPTER VIII 
Pioneer Families 



Settlers of "Hills Farm" — Isaac Cumniings and Descendants — Deed to 
Eleazer Cummings — Cumniings Farm — Gathering Turpentine — Vis- 
its of the Indians to Nashua River Island — Burying Ground of the 
Indians — Cummings Ferry — Cummings Tavern. 



CHAPTER IX 
Pioneer Families, Continued 107 

Nathan Cross Settles Next to Cummings — Deed of Land — Cross Fam- 
ily — William Cummings Farm — He and His Descendants — John 
Taylor Garrison Place — Eleazer Cummings, Jr., Homestead — Jabez 
Davis Farm. — Edward Spalding Farm — Spalding Family — Farm of 
Ebenezer Spalding — Origin of Thornton's Ferry — Josiah Cummings 
— Hills Ferry. 

CHAPTER X 
Settlers of Hills Farm 118 

Pollard Family — Winn Family — Winn Homestead — Thomas Colburn — 
Colburn Deed — Colburn Family — Maj. Zaccheus Lovewell — Love- 
well Farm — Ephraim Cummings — John Butler — Thomas Cum- 
mings — His Family — Ens. John Snow — Site of jHis House — Lt. 
Joseph Snow — Snow Family — Descendants of the Pioneers. 

CHAPTER XI 
"Hills Row" 129 

Brenton's Farm — List of Proprietors Living in Nottingham — Boundary 
of Litchfield — Area of Nottingham — Nathaniel Hills — Ezekiel 
Greeley — His Homestead — Hills Family — Joseph Pollard — The 
Marsh Family— Nathaniel Hills, Jr.— Hills Deed— Tyng Land- 
Settlers of Hills Row. 



8 HISTORY OF HUDSON 



CHAPTER XII 
The Boundary Dispute 137 

Confusion Caused by Early Surveys — Mistake in Regard to the Course 
of the Merrimack River — Perplexities of King and Courts — Notting- 
ham Becomes Involved in the Tangle — Made into a District — Dis- 
trict Meetings — Old Bounds — The Boundary Pine — Old Dracut 
Line. 



CHAPTER XIII 
"Londonderry Claim" 147 

The Boundary Dispute Becomes a Three-Cornered Fight with Nottingham 
— Spirit of the Times — Double Taxation — Petitions and Counter- 
Petitions — Annexation — Name of District made into Nottingham 
West to Distinguish it from Another Grant under the Title of Not- 
tingham — Area — List of Added Tax-Payers — New Boundary Line 
of Nottingham West — Population of Town at Various Dates — 
Adoption of Name of Hudson. 

CHAPTER XIV 
Nottingham West and Families 159 

Charter of Township — New Boundaries — Effect on Litchfield, Pelham, 
and Dracut — Family Sketches — Ebenezer Blodgett — Samuel Bur- 
bank — George Burns — Thomas Burns — John Caldwell — Joseph 
Caldwell — Ezekiel Chase — Roger Chase — Isaac Cummings — Eben- 
ezer Dakin — Charles Darrah — Arthur Darrah — Josiah Dutton — 
Daniel Simonds — William Taylor — Benjamin Tyng — James Wason. 

CHAPTER XV 
The First Meeting House 183 

Early Action Towards Public Worship — The First Minister — Efforts to 
Select a Site for a Meeting House — The Difficulty to Please All — 
Voted to Build on North Site — Location of First Meeting House — 
Pew Lots — Change in Boundary of Town Upsets Calculation of the 
Builders of Old First Meeting House — Disposal of Building. 



L.OND ONDERRY. 




\1ap of 
•Town of HcdsonJV.J-1. 

* Including 

Nottingham ^fT ts 

ANNEXATIONS r«.~ LONDONDERRY 
PRESENT AREA •' TOWNSHIP 
KIMBALL WEBST 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 9 

CHAPTER XVI 
The Second Meeting House 192 

Renewed Difficulties in Regard to Fixing Site for New House — The 
Upper Meeting House — Possibly the First in Town — Location of 
Hills Farm House — Site of "Second" Meeting House — Building 
the House — Pew Lots — Churchyard — When the Union of Town 
and Church Affairs Began to Cause Trouble — Rev. Nathaniel Merrill. 

CHAPTER XVII 
The Presbyterians and North Meeting House . 202 

Rival Religious Tenets — Discussions and Litigations that Arose from 
Church Differences — The Presbyterian House of Worship — Site of 
the Building — \rchitecture of the Interior — Fatality at the Raising 
— First Pastor — Minister's Tax Becomes a Bone of Contention — 
Purchase of North Meeting House. 

CHAPTER XVIII 
Some Early Church History 213 

A Lull in the Religious War — Vote to Repair North Meeting House — 
Call to Rev. John Strickland Dismissed — Rev. Jabez Pond Fisher — 
List of Those who Opposed Him — His Friends — Letter from Mr. 
Fisher — Better Feelings Engendered — Crisis in Religious Matters 
— The South Meeting House — Baptist Society — The North Meeting 
House Again — Pew Holders. 

CHAPTER XIX 
French and Indian Wars 225 

Old Militia Law — Savage Warfare — Rogers' Rangers — Men from Not- 
tingham West in the Service, 1744 to 1760 — Resident Taxpayers, 
1775— Tax List, 1779. 



10 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

CHAPTER XX 
Nottingham West in the Revolution 23t> 

Beginning of the War— Association Test— Signers— Capt. Joseph Kel- 
ley — The Town's Only Tory — Committee of Inspection — Conti- 
nental Money — Current Prices — Awards for Service to Portsmouth and 
Bennington Men — To the Volunteers — Other Awards — Deprecia- 
tion of Currency Causes Hardship — Beef Tax — Com Rates — Bill 
of Rights. 

CHAPTER XXI 
Dark Days of the Revolution 250 

The Little Republics — The Lexington Alarm — Minute Men of Notting- 
ham West — Muster Roll of 1775 — Personal Sketches — Men at Bun- 
ker Hill — Ticonderoga Alarm — Men in Expedition to Number Four 
—Nottingham West Soldiers at Bennington — Volunteers to Rhode 
Island in 1778. 

CHAPTER XXII 
Soldiers in the Revolution and War of 1812 . . 264 

List of Men and Their Service — Second War with Great Britain — Mus- 
ter Rolls Incomplete — Nottingham West Men in the Army. 

CHAPTER XXIII 
Hudson in the Civil and Other Wars .... 27g 

Hudson Loyal to the Cause — Action Relative to Bounties — Soldiers' 
Aid Society — Beginning of Hostilities — Hudson Soldiers in the 
War— First New Hampshire Regiment — Third Regiment — Fourth 
Regiment—Sharpshooters — Company G Sharpshooters — Seventh 
Regiment — Eighth Regiment — Ninth Regiment — Tenth Regiment 
Twelfth Regiment — Thirteenth Regiment — Important Battles — First 
N. H. Heavy Artillery — Hudson Men Who Served Elsewhere — 
Amount of Bounties — Entire Enlistments — Mexican War — Spanish. 
American War. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 11 

CHAPTER XXIV 
Tax Lists and Homesteads, 1793 B93 

Invoice of 1793 — Summary — Area of Land — Family Sketches — Nerth 
End Settlers — South End Settlers. 






CHAPTER XXV 
History of the Schools 316 

Initiatory Movements Towards Support of Schools— School Houses — Re- 
port of District Committee — Description of the Ten Districts — Early 
School Houses— School Report, 1847— School Statistics, 1855-1910 
— Town School System. — Smith School — Webster School — Burning 
of Smith School House — The Center School House. 

CHAPTER XXVI 
Customs of the Early Settlers 331 

When Neighbors Were Neighbors — Fireplaces — Oldtime Cooking — 
Middle Names — First Shoemakers — Homespun Clothes — Cider 
Mills — Lights and Lamps — Soap Making — Modes of Travel — Bean 
Porridge — Farm Tools — Clocks — Sheep Washing — Roots and 
Herbs — The Open Well — Sugar Making — Wheat Flour — Spiritu- 
ous Liquors — Tramps — Social Ways — Breaking Roads — Beards or 
Smooth Faces — Title of Mister — Justice of the Peace — Publishing 
the Banns — Highway Fences — Farm Methods — "Old" and "New" 
Tenor. 

CHAPTER XXVII 
Items of Interest and Local Names 362 

Saw Mills, Grist Mills and Shops — Pine Tree Law — Pine Tree Riot in 
Weare— Dark Day of 1730— Cold Summer— Cold Friday — Sep- 
tember Gale— Solar Eclipse of 1806 — Old Style and New Style- 
Organization of Hillsborough County — Lafayette's Visit — Pounds — 
Tarnic Pond— Robinson Pond— Barrett's Hill— Bush Hill— Hills 
Row — "The Farms" — Taylor's Falls Bridge — School Districts and 



12 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

School Houses — Thurston's Jump — Moose Swamp — Town Com- 
mons — Stocks — " Potash Corner" — " Lawrence Corner" — Library 
Park — Warning People Out of Town — Murders 

CHAPTER XXVIII 
Great Storms and Freshets 391 

The Merrimack a Mountain Stream— Freshet of 1818 — Freshet of 1S24 
—Freshet of 1839— Great Freshet of 1841— Freshet of 1843— Fresh- 
et of 1852— Highwater of 1862 — Great Freshet of 1896— Great Snow 
Storm of 1888. 

CHAPTER XXIX 

Ferries and Bridges 399 

Cummings Ferry — Hills Ferry — Hardy's Ferry — Taylor's Falls Bridge. 

CHAPTER XXX 
Cemeteries and Burial Grounds 411 

Hills Farms Cemetery — Ford Cemetery — Blodgett Cemetery — Old Hud- 
son Center Burying Ground — Senter BuryingGround — Hudson Cen- 
ter Cemetery — Sunnyside Cemetery — Catholic Cemetery — Ceme- 
tery of the Unknown. 

CHAPTER XXXI 

Foster Fund — Surplus Revenue 423 

John Foster, Jr., Legacy to the Worthy Poor— Surplus Revenue — Its 
Distribution. 

CHAPTER XXXII 
Additional Church History 428 

Congregational, Presbyterian Churches— Later History of Church Prog- 
ress—Ministers Since 1S42— The Baptist Church and Society— 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 13 

Founders of Society in Hudson — Pastors Since Its Organization in 
1805— Centennial Anniversary.— Resume of Church Work — Metho- 
dist Episcopal Church and Society— Work of the Founders— Fletch- 
er Fund— Bequest of Mrs. Tinker— Donation of Lucinda W. Floyd- 
Bequest of Mrs. Electa Atwood — Woodbury Contribution— Wood- 
bury Parsonage — Quarter Centennial — Bequest of Mr. Tolles — 
Honored Names— Pastors 1839-1912— AlvirneMemorial Chapel. 

CHAPTER XXXIII 
Public Libraries 461 

The Nottingham West Social Library— The Greeley Public Library- 
Lot for New Library Secured— Hills Memorial Library Building- 
Gift of Dr. Alfred K. Hills— Memorial Tablet to Memory of Hud- 
son's Soldiers and Sailors— Librarians of Hudson's Free Public 
Library. 

CHAPTER XXXIV 
Secret and Fraternal Orders 473 

National Grange — Grange of New Hampshire— Hudson Grange— Char- 
ter Members— Masters— Places of Meeting— Odd Fellowship in 
Hudson— Building of I. O. O. F. Hall— Echo Rebekah Lodge- 
Hudson Commandery. 

CHAPTER XXXV 
Highways and Byways 483 

Early Roads.— Derry Road— County Road— Province Line to Pelham— 
Corliss Hill— Nacook Brook— Back Lowell Road— Belknap Place 

Rocky Hill Road— From County Road to Pelham— Bowman 

Road — Old Daniel Smith Road— Smith Road— Bridle Road — Wa- 
son Road— Seavey Road— Ferry Street— Lowell Road— And Many 
Others — State Highways. 

CHAPTER XXXVI 
Steam and Electric Railroads 502 

Steam Railroads— Electric Railways— Lowell and Nashua Line— Hud- 
son, Pelham and Salem Route— Rapid Transit Between Nashua and 
Manchester. 



14 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

CHAPTER XXXVII 
Hudson Village 509 

Story of the Growth and Business of Hudson's Leading Hamlet — The 
Center — Resources of the Town — Hudson Water Works. 

CHAPTER XXXVIII 
Resident Physicians 530 

Dr. Ezekiel Chase — Dr. John Hall — Dr. Joseph C-ray — Dr. Apolos 
Pratt— Dr. Paul Tenney — Dr. Nathaniel P. Marsh— Dr. Daniel 
Tenney — Dr. Dustin Barrett — Dr. Elijah Colburn — Dr. Zaccheus 
Colburn — Dr. Henry M. Hooke — Dr. James Emery — Dr. David 
Onslow Smith — Dr. Herbert L. Smith — Dr. Henry O. Smith. 

CHAPTER XXXIX 
Voting Lists of Hudson 540 

First Printed Check List— Check List for 1874— Check List for 1909- 

CHAPTER XL 
Official Roster 551 

Lists of Moderators of Annual Town Meetings — Selectmen — Town 
Clerks — Delegates to General Court and Conventions, 1775-1913 
— Representatives to the General Court, 1775-1913 — Votes for 
Governors — Post Offices and Post Masters — Population. 

CHAPTER XLI 
Personal Sketches 509 

George G. Andrews — John Julian Baker — William Wallace Baker — 
Henry C. Brown — Willis P. Cummings — Charles E. Cummings — 
Dea. Moses Greeley — Reuben Greeley — Alden Hills— Hiram Marsh 
— Walter H. Marsh — James B. Merrill — John A. Robinson — Reu- 
ben Spalding — Kimball Webster — Nathan Pierce Webster — Wil- 
lard H. Webster. 



ILLUSTRATIONS 



GENERAL VIEWS 

OPP. 
PAGE 



Alvirne, Summer Residence of Dr. Alfred K. Hills . 528 

Alvirne Memorial Chapel 457 

Baptist Meeting House, 1841 441 

Congregational Church, 1842 193 

Davis, Asa, or Morrison House, 1780 305 

Garrison House, about 1720 80 

Hills Memorial Library, 1909 465 

Hudson Center 489 

Hudson Center School Building, 1908 316 

Hudson Shore above Bridge 17 

Hudson Town House, 1857 209 

Library Park, 1910 385 

Library Park from the South-west 393 

Map of Hudson 8 

Methodist Church, 1880 513 

Odd Fellows' Building, 1895 480 

Old Town Pound 369 

Page, Abraham, or Timothy Smith House 297 

Post Office Square 509 

Robinson's Pond and Barrett's Hill 24 

Scene looking up the Merrimack River from the 

Bridge 552 

Tarnic or Otternick Pond 377 

Taylor's Falls Bridge, 1827—1881 401 

Taylor's Falls Bridge, 1881—1910 504 

Taylor's Falls Bridge, 1910, two views 409, 545 

Taylor's Falls Bridge, 1912 225 

Webster School Building, 1896 328 

15 



OPP. 
PAGE 

569 

497 



16 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

PORTRAITS 

Andrews, George G 

Baker, John J 

Baker, William W 57 ° 

Brown, Henry C 560 

Cummings, Charles E 105 

Cummings, Willis P 573 

Greeley, Dea. Moses 169 

Greeley, Mrs. Mary Derby 172 

Greeley, Reuben 433 

Hills, Alden 129 

Hills, Alfred K„ M. D 13b 

Hills, Mrs. Ida Creutzborg 468 

Hills, Mrs. Nancy Kimball 132 

Marsh, Hiram *™ 

Marsh, Walter H 5 ™ 

Merrill, James B lSb 

Robinson, John A lbd 

Smith, David O., M. D 444 

Smith, Henry O., M. D »20 

Smith, Herbert L., M. D. b6 < 

Spalding, Reuben bM 

Webster, Kimball Frontispiece 

Webster, Nathan P. 



Webster, 



Willard H. 591 



ERRATA 

On page 15, next to last line, for 225 read 425. 

On page 455, 14th line, after "He died," read Novem- 
ber 3, 1866. 

On page 507, 4th line from bottom, change "Senter" 
to "Center." 

On page 586, top line, for 1744 read 1744-5. 

On page 645, 25th line, Jesse S. Webster should read 
Jesse S. Weston. 

On page 646, after Weston, James, add Jesse S., 407, 
410, 550, 557 (4), 561. 





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HISTORY OF HUDSON 



CHAPTER I 



Natural Features 



The beautiful town of Hudson, N. H., is situated on 
the east bank of the Merrimack River, and borders upon 
the Massachusetts line. It is bounded on the north by 
Litchfield and Londonderry, east by Windham and Pelham, 
south by Tyngsborough, Mass., and west by Nashua and 
Litchfield. One of the most delightful sections of the 
Merrimack River, which is here from three hundred and 
fifty to five hundred feet in width, marks its western boun- 
dary from Litchfield to the Massachusetts state line, a dis- 
tance of about six and one-half miles. 

The extreme length of the town from north to south 
is a little more than eight miles; its average width is three 
and one-half miles. Exclusive of its area of water, Hudson 
contains seventeen thousand, nine hundred and fifty-one 
acres, as nearly as can be ascertained. 

The surface of the water of the Merrimack along this 
part of its course has been raised by the Proprietors of the 
Locks and Canals dam at Pawtucket Falls, Lowell, from 
four to seven or eight feet above its original height. This 
flowage of the river extends as far north as Cromwell's 
Falls, Merrimack, and displaces all the falls that formerly 
existed between those points. 

In the days when the Merrimack followed its natural 
descent there were at least three rapids or waterfalls worthy 
of mention and of utility to the early settlers. About four 
17 



18 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

miles above Pawtucket, where the river swept around a 
considerable island by the same name, was Wicasuck Falls, 
noted as good fishing-grounds among the Indians and the 
early white settlers. The island was a scene of interest 
and importance during the perilous years of King Philip's 
War, when Capt. Jonathan Tyng overlooked a party of 
" praying Indians" that lived on the island for about ten 
years, thus keeping them from mingling in the bitter strife 
being waged between the colonists and the red men. In 
consideration of this valuable service the General Court of 
the Massachusetts Bay colony granted the plot of land to 
him December 5, 1683, and it became known as Tyng's 
Island. 

About eight miles above Wicasuck Falls, and one mile 
below the junction of Nashua River with the Merrimack, 
was a series of rapids known as Taylor's Falls, so called for 
an early settler. Of less consequence than Wicasuck Falls, 
they were about half a mile below Taylor's Falls bridge, 
which spans the river between Hudson and Nashua, and 
which received its name from that waterfall. Other minor 
rapids or falls marked the course of the river, but there 
were none that attracted the attention of the pioneers until 
Cromwell's Falls, already mentioned, were reached. To- 
day the unruffled surface of the river gives no indication 
of the existence of any falls between Pawtucket and Crom- 
well's Falls. 

The surface of the westerly part of Hudson is com- 
paratively level, and bordering upon the Merrimack are 
some fertile intervale lands, very productive and easy of 
cultivation. This is especially true of the northerly por- 
tion, where the Indians cultivated, in their primitive way, 
fields of maize, melons and vegetables long before the Eng- 
lish came hither to drive them away. There are smaller 
sections of land along the river that are sandy, and less 
productive, while tracts of light land are found in the 
interior. 

The easterly part of the town is hilly, and the greater 
portion is rocky and hard to cultivate. Still the soil is 



NATURAL FEATURES 19 

good, if meagre, and in many of the valleys, and on the 
hillsides are numerous excellent farms, which are well 
adapted to raising grass, apples, other fruits, and for graz- 
ing purposes. The sandy soils and rocky hills, many of 
which are entirely unfit for cultivation, are prolific in the 
growth of wood and valuable timber, which, being conven- 
ient to a good market, have long been, and will probably 
continue to be for many years in the future, sources of 
profit and income to the farmers of Hudson. 

By far the most profitable of all the species of timber 
grown in town is the white pine. This thrives best on 
sandy soil, but excellent pine forests are to be found grow- 
ing upon the rocky hillsides. The early settlers found ex- 
tensive tracts of white and yellow pine, which had no 
doubt occupied those places more than a thousand years. 
But these have all vanished, so that to-day only an oc- 
casional giant stump remains to remind us of their de- 
parted greatness. The stony hillsides and broken valleys 
are better adapted to species of hard woods, and here 
abound several varieties of the oak, white and silver leaf 
maple, white and gray birch, poplar, elm, ash and chestnut. 
Spruce and hackmatack grow in the swamps. 

When the first settlers arrived they found an almost 
unbroken wilderness of pine and hard woods. Consequent- 
ly portions of this had to be cleared before they could pro- 
duce any crops from the land. Fortunately there were 
natural meadows and strips of land along the river bank 
that afforded a rank grass upon which they fed their cattle 
during the long winters. These meadows were originated 
by the work of the busy beaver, in a large measure, through 
building their dams across the smaller streams, so as to 
flow the adjacent land for a considerable distance. Event- 
ually these small ponds became filled with debris, over 
which grew the coarse grass, that proved of such benefit to 
the pioneers. Yet, from the best evidence we have been 
able to obtain, we have no doubt that those natural grasses 
grown upon those boggy meadows, in primeval days, were 



20 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

far superior in quality as well as quantity to the grasses 
produced upon the same unimproved meadows in later 
years, after having been cropped for generations with noth- 
ing returned to aid in sustaining or renewing the fertility 
of those cold, acid soils. In the territory comprising Old 
Dunstable and Londonderry these wildwood meadows were 
numerous. 

As it is to-day, from forty to fifty per cent of the area 
of the town is covered with forest growth, more or less 
valuable, much of it young, and very little that has been 
growing more than fifty years. 

The story of the clearing and removing of the primeval 
forests in a large degree has an almost pathetic interest, 
and seems like a shameful waste of good material. But 
beyond building his humble cabin and cattle-shed, all of 
which really required but little timber, the pioneer had no 
use for the dense primitive growth covering the land. 
What he needed most were plots of land to cultivate his 
scanty crops, grazing spots for his stock, and an opening 
in the great damp forest to let the sunlight in upon his 
home. Thus he went about his task with little care for 
the value or utility of the timber he sought to destroy. 
Giant trees that to-day would be sources of much value 
were felled, cut into convenient lengths, pulled together 
and burned as so much refuse. Other tracts were submit- 
ted to a slower, if not more cruel fate, by being girdled and 
left to death and decay. Where the land did not promise 
good returns, or the location for other reasons was not de- 
sirable, portions of the beautiful, majestic forests were suf- 
fered to remain, so the last of these did not disappear until 
about the beginning of the 19th century. 

The hewers of those homes out of the primitive wil- 
derness were a sturdy, fearless yeomanry, and with those 
who followed a little later, have left enduring monuments 
in many forms, that meet our gaze at almost every turn. 
Their rugged dwellings are all gone, and while some of 
them have been replaced by more modern houses, we see 



NATURAL FEATURES 21 

here and there, in all parts of the town, some of them un- 
reached by a public road, others overgrown by an encroach- 
ing forest, depressions in the ground that denote the an- 
cient cellars marking the sites of the happy and thrifty 
homes of these early pioneers. Large families of frequent- 
ly twelve or fourteen children were born and raised, many 
of them going out into the world to become influential cit- 
izens far from the scenes of their childhood. 

When we visit the ancient burial grounds — of which 
we have five in town — we behold the humble mounds where 
repose the earthly remains of those same pioneers and their 
families. Standing at the heads of a comparatively few of 
these now leveled mounds are old, antique gravestones, 
with their quaint, almost hideous, carvings, upon which we 
may, by reading the moss-covered inscriptions, learn whose 
ashes lie beneath. 

Another landmark is to be seen in the hundreds of 
miles of those massive, enduring stone walls which we 
find inclosing fields and pastures, running up and down 
hill, through forests that have sprung into existence where 
once were cultivated lands, or winding through the valleys 
wherever rocks were abundant. These fences became re- 
ceivers of waste material as well as means of keeping with- 
in bounds the cattle and horses of the farmers. Some of 
these walls have partially fallen down, some have been re- 
moved by the modern farmer, but many still remain in- 
tact, four feet or more in height, bulwarks that have with- 
stood stubbornly and successfully the wars of the elements, 
in several instances for more than one hundred and fifty 
years. 

The moose, deer, wolf, beaver, mink, muskrat, marten, 
squirrel, rabbit, wild turkey, partridge, quail, wood-cock, 
bear, wild duck, pigeon, and other wild creatures were 
found more or less plentifully in the forests, while salmon, 
shad, alewives, lamprey eels and other migratory fishes as- 
cended the Merrimack in almost countless numbers. 



22 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

The wildwood game afforded considerable sustenance 
for the early inhabitants, and very soon after the appear- 
ance of the first settlers, we find them making provisions 
for the protection of the same, especially for the deer. At 
a town meeting held December 25, 1739, Edward Spaulding 
and Jonathan Perham were chosen " to care for the preser- 
vation of the deer." At the annual meeting the following 
year, March 4, 1740 r Joseph Hamblet, Jr., and William 
Cummings were chosen "preservers of Deer." 

March 9, 1747, Edward Spaulding and Benjamin Frost 
were chosen " to take care that the Deer are not destroyed 
out of season, as the law directs." 

"Deer Keepers," as they were called, were elected at 
the annual town meetings, with more or less regularity, 
until 1784, after which time we find no record of their 
election. 

March 2, 1752, at the annual meeting, "Voted to give 
£6 old tenor for every wolf that shall be caught and killed 
in this town the ensuing year." 

December 25, 1752, "Allowed Dea. William Cummings 
for killing wolves in 1751. 12 — — 0." 

At the annual town meeting March 9, 1772, "Chose 
Deacon Ebenezer Cummings to take care that the fish are 
not obstructed in their passage up Wattannock Brook, so 
called, this present year." 

March 4, 1774, " Chose Dea. Ebenezer Cummings & 
Jonathan Emerson to take care that the fish are not ob- 
structed in their passage up Wattannock Brook, so called, 
into the Pond." 

March 16,1778, "Chose Dea. Ebenezer Cummings, 
Page Smth, Wm. Gibson and David Tarbell to take care 
that the fish are not obstructed in going up Wattannock 
Brook." 

At a meeting November 2, 1778, the following account 
among others was allowed : "To Abraham Page for get- 
ting a Bill drawn at Court in relation to fish in Watana- 
nick Brook 1—10—0." 



NATURAL FEATURES 23 

The fish that passed from the Merrimack up Watan- 
anick Brook, as it was then called, to the pond by the same 
name, now known as Otternick, were alewives, which, in 
the spring of the year, migrated in great numbers. The 
writer has heard it said by old people, long since deceased, 
that the alewives passed up the brook in such quantities 
that the water was almost black with them, and that they 
could have been very easily taken from the brook in al- 
most any quantities desired. Barrels of them were salted 
and used for food by nearly every family in town. 

The distance of the meanderings of this brook, from 
the River Merrimack to Otternick Pond is a little over one 
and one-fourth miles. 

The obstructions to the passage of the fish up the 
stream feared by the people were probably dams being 
built across the brook for the purpose of holding back the 
water to furnish power for mills. 

The last moose known to have been in this town was 
killed by Asa Davis, Esq., at Moose Swamp, situated at the 
easterly end of Hill's meadow, sometime about the begin- 
ning of the 19th century, though the exact date is not 
known. One of the horns of this animal has been care- 
fully preserved by the descendants of Mr. Davis, and may 
still be seen at the old Davis homestead, now owned and 
occupied by his great grandson, Augustus R. Morrison. 

Barrett's Hill, situated in the easterly part of the town, 
south of Little Massabesic or Robinson's Pond, is the most 
conspicuous elevation. Its height is substantially five hun- 
dred feet above sea level, and a little more than four hun- 
dred feet above the Merrimack River at Taylor's Falls 
bridge. The elevation of the east summit of Bush Hill, not 
very far west of the line between Pelham and Hudson, is 
also very near five hundred feet. 

Three ponds are within the limits of the town. Little 
Massabesic, or Robinson's Pond, lies in the north-east part, 
and, until the annexation of a portion of Londonderry in 
1778, was wholly within that township. This sheet of 



24 HTSTORY OF HUDSON 

water has an area of about one hundred and twenty acresy 
and its outlet flows into Beaver Brook one and one-fourth 
miles to the east. Otternick, more commonly called "Tar- 
nick," lies about one mile east of the Merrimack, contains 
thirty-eight acres, and empties into the river by Otternick 
Brook about eighty rods below Taylor's Falls bridge, and 
one-half mile below the junction of Nashua River with the 
main stream. 

Several mills have been erected on this brook at vari- 
ous times, and in several places along its course from the 
pond to the Merrimack. 

The first saw mill in town is said to have been located 
at or near the outlet of Otternick Pond at an early date in 
its settlement, but who built this mill or at what date can- 
not be easily determined. 

No machinery of any kind is at present operated by 
the waters of this brook. 

The present name of Otternick, which applies to the 
pond and brook, was derived from the Indian name various- 
ly spelled in the early records as Watananoc, Wattannick, 
Watananock, Watananuck, Watannack, Watananick, etc. 

Another small pond containing but a few acres, situ- 
ated in the south section of the town, is now called Mus- 
quash Pond. A considerable stream flows from this pond 
and empties into the Merrimack a short distance below the 
state line, in Tyngsboro, Mass. This stream has furnished 
power for a grist and saw mill from the days of the early 
settlement to recent times. These have all gone to decay, 
and the brook now flows unobstructed from source to out- 
let. The early records give the name of this stream as 
Nacook, which is undoubtedly of Indian origin and was 
probably applied to the pond also. 

The water power in this town is very limited, and no 
extensive manufacturing interests have ever been located 
within its bounds. Thus the inhabitants of Hudson have 
always been, and still are engaged in the pursuit of agricul- 
ture. While perhaps it could not be classed among the 



NATURAL FEATURES 25 

best in the county of Hillsborough, it certainly is as good 
or better than the average. 

The city of Nashua furnishes a very convenient mar- 
ket for much of the products of the town, including milk 
and cream, which are produced in large quantities, while 
Lowell, Mass., with a population of nearly one hundred 
thousand, is only five miles distant from its southern boun- 
dary. 



CHAPTER II 
Aboriginal History 

Not long previous to the landing of the Pilgrims at 
Plymouth Rock and the little band of fishermen at the 
mouth of the Paseataqua River, the most powerful Indian 
confederacy in New England north of the Pequots in the 
southern part, were the tribes or families occupying the val- 
ley of the Merrimack and the adjacent territory. Like the 
Iroquois of the West, these red men were devoted quite 
largely to agriculture. They cultivated, in their primitive 
manner, the fertile intervales along their favorite river, 
caught the fish that abounded in its waters, hunted the 
game of this rich region, and were examples of content- 
ment. 

The principal tribes of this association of warriors 
banded together in order to protect themselves from the in- 
cursions of the warlike Tarratines on the east and the fierce 
Mohawks on the west, each of which seemed to have cov- 
eted their abundant domain and contended with them for 
its possession from time immemorial, were the Agawams, 
the Wamesits, or Pawtuckets, Nashuays, Souhegans, Nat- 
ticooks, Pennacooksand Winnepesaukees. These different 
bodies occupied all of the country from around the mouth 
of the Merrimack back to its source in the mountains. 
The tribes living in this vicinity were the Nashuays, located 
along the river that bears their name, the Souhegans to 
their north, and the Natticooks living on the intervales of 
Litchfield and Merrimack. The dominant tribe was the 
Pennacook, which had furnished the ruling sachem for sev- 
eral generations. There were other tribes pledging alle- 
giance to the Pennacook, if not for actual friendship, in or- 
der to obtain the protection of this stronger party, which 
26 



ABORIGINAL HISTORY 27 

for many generations seems to have been controlled by 
wise and fearless chieftains. 

These Indians inhabiting the interior were known to 
those living along the sea coast as Nipmucks, or fresh wa- 
ter Indians. The English, however, applied the general 
term of Pennacooks to them, and made their treaties with 
Passaconnaway, who was the head of this confederacy. 

While this confederation, under the sagacious council 
of the astute Pa?saconnaway, was disposed to treat more 
fairly with the English than some of the other bodies of 
Amerinds located in New England, the Pennacooks were 
very much broken in spirit and reduced in numbers at the 
time of the appearance of the whites upon the scene. A 
few years before a terrible disease, the nature of which has 
never been clearly indicated, broke out among the tribes of 
Northern New England and greatly decimated their num- 
bers. Speaking of this depopulation, Capt. John Smith, who 
visited the coast in 1614 and later, wrote : "They had three 
plagues in three years successively near two hundred miles 
along the sea coast, that in some places there scarce re- 
mained five of a hundred. ***** It is most certain 
there was an exceeding great plague among them ; for 
where I have seen two or three hundred, within three years 
after remained scarce thirty." So, subdued in spirit as 
well as lessened in numbers, the English had far less to 
contend with than they might otherwise have been com- 
pelled to meet. 

Owing to this calamity and the encroachments of the 
English, as early as 1685, the Pennacook was the only sur- 
viving tribe of this powerful confederation. The entire 
story is one of pathetic and mournful interest. The char- 
acters of Passaconnaway and his successors, Wonnalancet 
and Kancamagus, and the abuse they suffered at the 
hands of their conquerers, is told at considerable length 
in Potter's History of Manchester, of which the following 
is an extract : 



28 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

"The sagamores of the most note among the Penna- 
cooks were Passaconnaway, Wonnalancet, his son, and Kan- 
camagus, usually called John Hogkins, his grandson. These 
chiefs were successively at the head of the Pennacooks, and 
each in his way, was a man of mark in his time. 

" Passaconnaway's name indicated his warlike charac- 
ter, and meant 'The child of the bear.' This name he 
doubtless received at mature age, according to the custom 
of the Indians, from his supposed resemblance in courage 
and bravery to that ferocious animal. We first hear of 
him in 1627 or 1628, and it is possible that he was met by 
Christopher Levett in the neighborhood of the Pascataqua 
in 1623." 

Referring to the accounts of him by the early writers, 
Mr. Potter continues : " From which marvelous story we 
are to infer that Passaconnaway was a clever juggler as well 
as brave warrior. In fact he held his people in awe of him, 
the Indians supposing him to have supernatural powers ; to 
have control over their destinies ; that he could make a dry 
leaf turn green ; water burn and then turn to ice ; and 
could take the rattlesnake in his hand with impunity. With 
such reputed powers, his acknowledged ability as a warrior 
and wisdom as a sagamore, Passaconnaway became the ac- 
knowledged head of the most powerful confederacy east of 
the Mohawks, and as such received the title of Bashaba, a 
title of much the same import as that of Emperor. * * * * 

"In the planting season Passaconnaway had a residence 
at Pennacook Island in the Merrimack, and another upon 
the island in the Merrimack a mile north of the mouth of 
the Souhegan ; while his principal residence was at Namas- 
keag. ***** Here, without a doubt, he sat in royal 
state, held his council fires, determined upon his warpaths, 
gave his royal feasts, and performed those feats that held 
his wondering followers as with the spell of enchantment. 

"Passaconnaway early saw the superiority of the Eng- 
lish, and with his usual sagacity he realized the entire hope- 
lessness of the attempts of his people to subdue them. His 



ABORIGINAL HISTORY 29 

policy was to make terms of peace with them, and it was 
in pursuance of this policy that he disposed of his lands to 
Wheelwright, reserving alone his right of fishing and 

hunting. 

# # * « # 

"In 1642, upon suspicion that a conspiracy was form- 
ing among the Indians to crush the English, men were sent 
out to arrest some of the Indian chiefs. Forty were sent 
to secure Passaconnaway, but aided by a storm he escaped. 
Wonnalancet, his son, was not as fortunate. He was taken 
by a party, while his squaw escaped into the woods." Not 
only was Wonnalancet seized and borne away as a captive, 
but he suffered indignities at the hands of his captors that 
must have aroused the proud spirit of this prince. At any 
rate the whites sought immediately to make some amends, 
and invited Passaconnaway to come and talk with them. 
Had the aged sagamon been in his younger years his re- 
ply might have been more warlike. As it was he showed 
something of the fire of other days, when he sent this short 
but decisive answer : 

"Tell the English when they restore my son and his 
squaw, then will I talk with them, and not before." 

Wonnalancet was set free soon after, but the wound 
rankled in the old sagamon's breast, for in 1647, when Fa- 
ther Eliot sought to address him among a vast number of 
the Indians who had collected at Pawtucket, he withdrew 
with two of his sons, saying " He was afraid the whites 
would kill them!" But the following year he seems to have 
relented, for we find him with a great concourse of his peo- 
ple listening to the words of the good man, and he became 
a convert to the Christian religion. During the next twelve 
years little is heard of Passaconnaway. He doubtless went 
back and forth between his favorite fishing places, Paw- 
tucket and Amoskeag, until in 1660 he made his last ap- 
pearance upon the stage of action. The word had gone 
forth that he was to deliver upon this occasion his farewell 
address, and confer his mantle upon his son Wonnalancet. 



30 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

This was not an unusual proceeding, but owing to the pres- 
tige of the aged chieftain it was looked upon with uncom- 
mon importance. And, as he stood there before his fol- 
lowers on that fair spring day, he presented the most pic- 
turesque figure that ever addressed an audience in New 
England. At first his voice was low and trembled with 
the emotion that filled his being, but slowly it grew plainer 
and louder, while he briefly related some of the leading 
events in his long life, and pictured the former glory of his 
people, until at last he came to utter these stirring and im- 
mortal words : 

" Hearken ! to the words of your father. I am an old 
oak, that has withstood the storms of more than a hundred 
winters. Leaves and branches have been stripped from 
me by the winds and frosts ; my eyes are dim ; my limbs 
totter ; I must soon fall ! When young and sturdy I de- 
lighted in war. The whoop of the Pennacooks was heard 
upon the Mohawk, and none louder than Passaconnaway's. 
The scalps upon the pole at my wigwam told the story of 
Mohawk suffering. 

"Hearken! the English came. They found us few and 
weak. In vain, did I try my arm against them ; in vain, 
my sorcery. I, who can make the dry leaf live again; who 
dares the rattlesnake and defies the thunder ; who has com- 
muned with the Great Spirit, can read the sign in the fall- 
ing leaf. 

" Hearken, my children, to what I say. I listen; the 
Great Spirit bids me say this to you : ' Peace, peace is the 
only hope for your race. I have given fire and thunder to 
the pale-faces ; I have made them plenty, as the leaves of 
the forest ; and still they come. Your meadows they turn 
with the plow; they build their villages upon your fishing 
places ! ' 

"The Great Spirit says these words, and they must 
be true. We are few and helpless before them ! We must 
bend before the storm ! The wind blows hard ! The old 
oak trembles! Its branches are gone ! Its sap is frozen ! It 



ABORIGINAL HISTORY 31 

bends ; it falls ! Peace, peace with the white men, is the 
command of the Great Spirit, and the wish — the last wish 
— of Passaconnaway." 

Two years later following this memorable farewell ad- 
dress, on the 9th of May, 1662, the venerable chieftain pre- 
sented the following petition to Governor John Endicott 
and the General Court of Massachusetts : 

To the honored John Endicol Esqr. together with the rest of the hon- 
ored General Court now Assembled in Boston the petition oj Papisseconnewa 
in behalf of himself as also many other Indians who now for a longe time 
flV selves d'r progenitors seated upon a trad of land called Naticot. 

Wheras this land is now in the possession of Mr. William Brenton of 
Rode Island marchant ; and is confirmed to the said Mr. Brenton to him 
his heirs and assigns according to the Laws of this Jurisdiction, by reason 
of which tracte of land being taken up as aforesaid, and thereby your Pore 
petitionr with many oth (ers) in an onsetled condition and must be forced 
in a short time to remove to some other place. 

The Humble request of yr petitionr is that this honored Court wolde 
pleas to grante vnto vs a parcell of land for or comfortable cituation ; to 
be stated for or Injoyment; as also for the comfort of oths after vs ; as 
also that this honored Court wold pleas to take in to yr serious consid- 
eration the condition and also the requeste of yr pore Suplicant and to 
apoynte two or three persons as a Committee to arrange with some one or 
two Indians to vew and determine of some place and to lay out the same, 
not further to trouble this Honored Assembly, humbly craving an expected 
answer this present session I shall remain yr humble Servante 
Wherein yu Shall Commande, 

PAPISSECONEWA. 
Boston: 8: 3 mo 1662. 

Passaconnaway's petition was not made in vain. The 
court seems to have taken into consideration the valuable 
services the aged chieftain had done for the colonists, and 
performed only an act of justice when it returned the fol- 
lowing reply : 

In answer to the petition of Papisseconneway, this Court judgeth it 
meete to grant to the saide Papisseconneway and his men or associates 
about Naticot, above Mr. Brenton's lands, where it is free, a mile and a 
half on either side of Merrimack river in breadth, three miles on either 
side in length, provided he nor ihey do not alienate any part of this grant 
without leave and license from this Court, first obtained. 



32 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

The court appointed John Parker and Jonathan Dan- 
forth, surveyors, to lay out the tract of land to Passaconna- 
way and his associates, a territory that only a few years 
since had been theirs by a title as good possibly as that of 
the English. In a few days less than a year these survey- 
ors made the following report : 

According to order of Honord General Court, there is laid out unto 
the Indians Papisseconneway and his associates the inhabitants of Nati- 
cott, three miles square, or so much (eather) as containes it in the figure 
of a romboides upon Merrimack River; beginning at the head of Mr. 
Brenton's Lands at Naticott, on the east side of the River, and then it 
joineth to his line, which line runs halfe a point North West of the east, 
it lyeth one mile and halfe wide on side of ye river and somewhat better, 
and runnes three miles up the River, the Northern line on the east side of 
the river is bounded by a brook (called by the Indians) Suskayquetuck, 
right against the falls in the river called Pokechuous, the end line on both 
sides of the River are parallells ; the side line on the east side of the River 
runes halfe a point eastward of the No : No : east and the side line on 
the west side of the river runes Northeast and by North all of which is 
sufficiently bounded and marked with I, also ther is two small islands in 
the River, part of which the lower end line crosses. One of them Papis- 
seconneway had lived upon and planted a long time, a small patch of in- 
tervale Land on the West side of the River anent and a little below ye 
islands by estimation about forty acres, which joyenth their land to Sou- 
hegan River, which the Indians have planted (much of it) a long time, and 
considering there is very little good land in that which is now laid out un- 
to them, the Indians do earnestly request this Honord Court to grant 
these two small Islands and ye patch of intervale as it is bounded by the 
Hills. 

This land was laid out 27, 3d mo 1663. 

By JOHN PARKER and JONATHAN DANFORTH 

Surveyrs 

this worke was done by us at our charge wholly, at the request of 
the Indians, who was important and as we were informed by the order of 
this Honord Court respecting ourselves. Hence we humbly request this 
Honord Generall Court (if our services are acceptable) that they would 
take order we may be considered Sd the same, so we shall remain yr 
Humble Servants as before 

The deputies approve of said return and do order the Indians pay 
the Surveyors what is justly due for the Laying out the same the Honora- 
ble Magistrates consenting thereto. 

WILLIAM TORREY, Clerk. 



ABORIGINAL HISTORY 33 

This grant, it will be seen by examination of the boun- 
dary, included parts of Manchester, Londonderry and Litch- 
field on the east side of the river ; and Bedford and Merri- 
mack on the west. At the northern boundary of the tract, 
at the mouth of Suskayquetuck Brook, as called by the In- 
dians, now known as Cohas, is situated a considerable fall 
in the river, the Indian name of which was Pokechuous, re- 
named by the English settlers as Goffe's Falls. While per- 
haps not equal to Amoskeag and Pawtucket Falls, this was 
a favorite fishing place with the Indians, and they were 
especially anxious the grant should cover these falls. They 
were also anxious the grant should include the islands and 
intervales "which he (Passaconnaway) had lived upon and 
planted a long time." No doubt they were keen enough 
to know the truth as expressed by the surveyors in their 
return, " and considering there is very little good land in 
that which is now laid out to them." Is it a wonder if an 
undercurrent of bitterness should pervade the reply of the 
great sachem, who had been a true and trusted friend of 
the English, in peace and in war, and who in his old age 
had provided for a continuance of this good faith through 
the efforts of his son ? 

Further down the river the grant had been made to 
William Brenton, of Rhode Island, for a trifling service 
done the government, of a tract of nearly six square miles 
of territory comprising the rich intervale lands on both 
sides of the Merrimack, while this grant to Passaconnaway 
and his associates of mostly worthless land was made with 
the reservation, "provided he nor they do not alienate any 
part of this grant without leave and license from this 
Court, first obtained." So it was not granted to them as 
their land in fee, but set off for their use for the time be- 
ing. And to add still further to the injustice and inconsist- 
ency of the transaction the court made the following 
order: "The deputies do approve of said return and do 
order the Indians pay the Surveyors what is justly due for 
the Laying out of the same the Honorable Magistrates con- 
senting thereto.'''' 



34 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

The italics are ours, to bring out more forcibly, if pos- 
ble, the underlying spirit of this whole action. Well might 
"the Honorable Magistrates consent thereto." 

With the closing of this affair the history of Passacon- 
naway ends and his name does not reappear. It is cer- 
tain that five or six years later he was dead, but where he 
spent his last years of loneliness and where he was finally 
laid to rest, none of his race ever disclosed. It seems 
wrong that the name of this great and illustrious man, in 
his time, should not have been better perpetuated than it 
has been. Mr. Potter, in his history of Manchester, says : 

In less than twenty years from the time Passaconnaway submitted 
himself to the colonists, and put himself under their protection, he and 
his tribe were reduced to beggary. The Bashaba of the Merrimack valley, 
and the rightful owner of all its broad lands, had become " a pore peti 
tioner" for a plantation of pine plains, and "did earnestly request the 
Honered Court to grant two small islands and ye patch of intervale " to 
him, receiving them doubtless with all due submission, if not humility! 
Old age, as well as contact with civilization, must have done its work upon 
the spirit of this haughty sagamon for him thus to have meekly asked his 
usurpers to grant him what was properly his own. * * * In reflecting up- 
on the character of the Merrimack sagamon, the conviction forces itself 
upon one, that at the head of a powerful confederacy of Indians, honored 
and feared by his subjects, and capable of moulding their fierce passions 
to his will, the history of New England would have been told as another 
story than the triumph of our Pilgrim Fathers, had Passaconnaway taken 
a different view of his own destiny and that of his tribe. ***** Prov- 
idence seems to have tempered the fierce savages for the reception and 
triumph of the Anglo-Saxon race in the New World. 



CHAPTER III 

When Hudson Was a Wilderness 

Passaconnaway left at least four sons and two daugh- 
ters. The oldest son, Nanamocomuck, was sagamon of 
the Wachuset tribe of Indians living about the mountains 
by that name. This chief did not seem to have the forgiv- 
ing qualities of his father to that extent which enabled him 
to forget the wrongs thrust upon him. At one time he 
was seized and put in prison at Boston for a debt due one 
John Tinker from another Indian, and for which he had 
become responsible. Unable to pay the claim the chief 
was in a sorry predicament, when his younger brother, 
Wonnalancet, came to his assistance by offering to sell the 
home island in the Merrimack a few miles above Lowell. 
This was no mean sacrifice, as it was here the chieftain 
held his royal court, and resided with a dignity becoming 
his station. The court granted this permission, as if it 
were bestowing a great favor upon the unfortunate owner, 
and one Ensign John Evered, sometimes known as Webb, 
purchased the tract of over sixty acres, so the imprisoned 
chieftain was set free. 

But Nanamocomuck had incurred a fear if not a dis- 
like for the English, and he sought an alliance with the 
Ameriscoggin Indians in Maine, who had acknowledged 
fealty to the Pennacook confederacy in the days of its 
wide-spread power. Here he seems to have died about the 
time of his father, so that the government of the Penna- 
cooks fell upon the shoulders of his brother, Wonnalancet. 

Passaconnaway had a daughter older than Wonnalan- 
cet, who became the wife of Nobhow, the sagamon of Paw- 
tucket, who was quite prominent in the affairs of the whites 
and Indians. Another daughter married Montawxampate, 
the sagamon of Saugus. This was prior to 1628, and it 
35 



36 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

was around the difference that arose between this chief and 
his illustrious father-in-law, our poet Whittier wove his ro- 
mance of the unfortunate Weetamoo. 

The names of the other sons were Unanunquosett and 
Nonatomenut, both of whom dwelt about Pawtucket, and 
proved friendly to the English. 

Wonnalancet, the successor of Passaconnaway, was 
born about 1619, and it seemed fortunate that he should 
have succeeded to the important position that he did, else 
the English might have had far more trouble in overcoming 
their enemies. Notwithstanding the indignities that one 
of his proud spirit and position must have suffered at the 
hands of the whites, and the sacrifices that he was called 
upon, time and again, to make, he always maintained a 
friendly attitude towards them. "His name," says Mr. 
Pottor, " is indicative of his character, meaning literally 
breathing pleasantly, derived from Wonne or Wunne, 
'pleasant,' and Nangshonat, 'to breathe.' This name, 
after the Indian custom, he received when he arrived at the 
age of manhood, and he had shown to his tribe such quali- 
ties as deserved it ; and he ever proved himself worthy of 
this flattering cognomen." 

He doubtless succeeded his father in 1668, as he left 
his fort at Pennacook about that time and appeared at 
Pawtucket in the spring of 1669, where he built a fort to 
protect his people from their dreaded enemies, the Mo- 
hawks. It seems likely that some of his people continued 
to live at Pennacook, but he evidently preferred the coun- 
try about Pawtucket. So he and his followers continued 
to plant and fish along the Merrimack between those places. 
Following the permission to sell Wickasauke Island 
and the grant of a hundred acres to the west of Chelms- 
ford, "because he had a great many children and no plant- 
ing ground," he desired to recover their favorite resort. 
Hence the following petition was sent to the court : 



WHEN HUDSON WAS A WILDERNESS dt 

To the most worshipful Richard Bellingham, Esq., Govr and to the rest of 

the Honord General Court. 

The petition of us poore neibor Indians whose Names are hereunto 
-subscribed, humbly sheweth that wheras Indians severall years since we 
yr petit's out of pity and compassion to out pore brother and Countryman 
to redeem him out of prison and bondage and whose name is Nanamoco- 
muck, the eldest son of Passaconnaway, who was Cast into prison for a 
debt of another Indian unto John Tinker for which he gave his word: the 
redemption of whome did cost us our desirable posetions where we and 
ours had and did hope to enjoy our livelihood for ourselves and our pos- 
terity : namely an Island on Merrimack River called by the name of 
wicosurke which was purchased by Mr. John Web: who hath Curtiously 
Given Vs leave to plant vpon ever since he hath possessed the same, we 
doe not know whither to Goe, nor where to place ourselves for our Lively 
hood in procuring vs bread: having beine very Solicitous wh Mr. Web to 
lett vs enjoy our said posetions againe he did condescend to our motion 
provided we would repay him his charges but we are pore and Canot so 
doe — or request is mr Web may have a grant of about 5 C acres of land 
in two places adjoying his owne Lands in the wilderness, which is our 
owne proper Lands as the aforesaid Island ever was 

10: 8: 65 

NOBHOW in behalf of my wife and children. 

VNANUNQUOSETT 

WANALANCETT 

NONATOMENUT. 

If the Court please to grant this petition then yr petitionr Wanalan- 
cet is willing to surrender up ye hundred acres of land yt was granted him 
by the Court. 

The court looked with favor upon this humble peti- 
tion, as well it might, considering the generous offer, and 
the following reply was sent within a week : 

In Ans. to this petition the Court grant Mr. John Evered (Webb) 
five hundred acres of land adjoining to his lands upon condition hee re- 
lease his right in an Island in the merrimacke river called wicosacke which 
was purchased by him of the Indian petitioners — also upon condition 
wonalancet do release a former grant to him of an hundred acres and the 
court do grant said Island to petitioner — John Parker and Jonathan Dan- 
forth are appointed to lay out this grant of five hundred acres to John 
Evered. 

EDWD RAWSON, Secy. 
Consented to by the Deputies. 

14 Oct. 1665. (Mass. Archives, Vol. 30, p. 130.) 



38 HISTORY OF HCDSON 

Wonnalancet resumed the occupation of his beautifuJ 
island home at Wickasauke, which he continued to make 
his abode until 1675. During this period, besides such cul- 
tivation as he could do at his island, he planted the clear- 
ings at Souhegan and Pennacook, and fished at Namos- 
keag. He seems to have stopped at these last named plac- 
es only long enough to secure his harvests of crops and 
fish, though he did maintain a fort at Pennacook in order 
to defend himself and followers from any depredations of 
enemies. 

It seems rather singular that, while his father had em- 
braced the Christian faith, more than a quarter of a cen- 
tury before, and he had lived a peaceful life, listening fre- 
quently to the word of God as preached by good Father 
Eliot, Wonnalancet should have refused to accept its teach- 
ings until in May, 1674. Mr. Gookin says that he and Mr. 
Eliot visited Pawtucket on the 5th of May, when large 
numbers of Indians were gathered at the place looking af- 
ter their fisheries. That evening Mr. Eliot preached to 
them in the wigwam of Wonnalancet. During the service 
the sagamon appeared grave and sober. The next day Mr. 
Eliot approached him and inquired if he did not feel like 
praying to God. Then Wonnalancet stood up with the 
grave decorum for which the red man was noted, and look- 
ing upon the preacher with great deliberation, finally re- 
plied in a slow, thoughtful manner : 

"Sirs, you have been pleased for years past in your 
abundant love to apply yourselves particularly unto me and 
my people ; to exhort, press and persuade us to pray to 
God. I am thankful to you for your goodness. I must not 
deny I have all of my days been used to pass in an old ca- 
noe ; and now you exhort me to change and leave my old 
canoe and embark in a new one. I have heretofore been 
unwilling ; now I yield myself to your advice, and enter in- 
to a new canoe. Hereafter I engage to pray to God." 

We have every reason to believe that Wonnalancet 
kept the faith, though he was many times sorely tried. 
Gookin in 1677, in speaking of his conversion, says : 



WHEN HUDSON WAS A WILDERNESS 59 

"I have charity and faith to believe him to be an hon- 
est Christian man, being one that in his conversation walks 
unswervably to his knowledge. He prays in his family, 
and is careful of keeping the Sabbath ; loves to hear God's 
words ; sober in conversation." 

King Philip's War broke out in 1675, and Wonnalancet 
found himself confronted by a serious problem. The wily 
Philip had sent his most trusty followers, or gone himself, 
to every tribe in Northern New England, hoping to form 
a confederacy that could crush the English. Wonnalancet 
firmly refused to ally himself and people in this far-reaching 
combination. Still past experience told him that, even if 
he remained neutral, he would be constantly open to sus- 
picion, and the work of hostile Indians would be attributed 
to his people. In this dilemma he quietly withdrew to 
Pennacook, and from thence, with some of his closest fol- 
lowers, retired to the St. Francis lodge in New France, now 
Canada. 

This movement alarmed the English, and emissaries 
were sent to entreat him to come back. This he declined 
to do, though he kept well posted in regard to what was 
being done by the enemies of the English, and frequently 
warned them of impending attacks by hostile forces. In 
the midst of this trying situation, many of the Indians of 
Northern New England who had joined King Philip de- 
serted him and returned to their former companions, Pen- 
nacooks, Sokoki and Ossipees. One reason for doing this 
was that they expected to escape punishment for their re- 
cent disloyalty by being under the protection of Wonna- 
lancet, who had remained faithful to the whites. These 
Indians promised future good behavior, and as many as 
four hundred, under the influence of Wonnalancet, were 
admitted into Dover at one time under the pretence of 
forming a treaty with them. But the order came from Mas- 
sachusetts to seize all of these Indians, and in spite of the 
advice of Major Waldron, these red men were betrayed, 
and those who were not killed were taken captives, and 



40 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

eight of them were hung in Boston, while the rest were sold 
into slavery. 

Wonnalancet, who had been summoned hither, and his 
followers were suffered to go free, and they returned to 
their home at Wickasauke. Perhaps feeling that there was 
reason for an outbreak among these Indians, the General 
Court, ever alive to suspicion if not justice, ordered Won- 
nalancet and his companions to be placed under the guard- 
ianship of Jonathan Tyng of Dunstable. This veteran 
frontiersman, with more faith in his princely prisoner than 
the men who had invested him with the power to watch 
him, allowed the chieftain comparative liberty. Still the 
proud spirit of Wonnalancet rebelled against this indigni- 
ty, and he felt that he could no s longer trust the English. 

While he had been away the English had taken posses- 
sion of his planting ground, so he had nowhere to raise the 
crops so essential to his living. Mr. Eliot in speaking of 
the situation, says : 

He (Wonnalancet) was persuaded to come in again ; but the English 
having plowed and sown all of their lands, they had but little corn to sub- 
sist by. A party of French Indians, of whom some were of the kindred 
of this sachem's wife, very lately fell upon this people, being but few and 
unarmed, and partly by force and partly by persuasion carried them away. 

Wonnalancet showed his friendship for the English by 
calling upon his old friend and teacher, the Rev. Mr. Fiske, 
to inquire in regard to what had taken place since he had 
been away. Mr. Fiske replied that they had been highly 
favored: for which he desired "to thank God." 

" Me next," declared the shrewd sagamon, who felt, 
and not without reason, that a share of the credit belonged 
to him. 

In spite of the suspicious attitude of the whites against 
him, at least twice during the period of the war warning 
them of impending harm from unfriendly men of his race, 
Wonnaloncet remained at Wicasauke, or in the vicinity, un- 
til the following autumn, as if he was loath to leave the 
scenes of the brightest years of his troubled life. The 



WHEN HUDSON WAS A WILDERNESS 41 

Merrimack and its tributaries, abounding with fish, and 
the rich intervales along its banks easy of cultivation, had 
been a favorite country of his people for many generations. 

Such spots, combining a rich light soil, with productive fisheries, 
were always chosen ; and the choice was a wise and beautiful one. The 
Indian was a child of Nature, and he gazed upon her charms with filial 
admiration, knowing the plains as their harvest land, the mountains as 
the abode of the Great Spirit. 

Towards the last of September, 1677, he retired again 
to St. Francis, and again his enemies reproached him with 
the old story of unfaithfulness towards those for whom he 
had professed a life-long friendship. In spite of these 
charges he went quietly about his own affairs, to live them 
down as he had before. Major Gookin, his fast friend, 
gives five reasons why the sagamon should have adopted 
this course, any one of which was sufficient. He concludes 
by saying: 

" The wonder of it is that Wonnalancet had not retired 
long before, and made common cause with the enemies of 
the English, as they and portions of his own tribe had re- 
peatedly urged him to do." 

He did not re-appear at his old haunts until the close 
of King Philip's War, and a treaty of peace with the East- 
ern Indians, and not to be active then. About this time 
the son of his older brother, Kancamagus, came into the 
leadership of the Pennacooks and allied tribes. As this 
relative was of a more warlike nature, and was inclined to 
harass the English, it was natural the older sagamon should 
have little if any interest with him. In fact, his retirement 
to St. Francis was considered by the followers of the grand- 
son of Passaconnaway as an abdication of his rule. 

Wonnalancet was beginning to feel the weight of his 
years — he was verging upon seventy — and finding that he 
would receive little further benefit from them, he resolved 
to sell his interest in the lands about Wamesit, Pawtucket, 
Nashuay and Naticook. This was the last important rec- 



42 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

ord that we have of him, and a sale was effected early in 
1686, and Jonathan Tyng became the owner of the last of 
the Pennacook possessions in the valley of the Merrimack. 
The entire purchase money paid amounted to only twenty- 
four pounds ! As a result of this transaction, the pur- 
chasers petitioned the court under date of July 12, 1686, 
praying that the land bought of Wonnalancet be set apart 
as a new county to be called Merrimack. 

Upon making this sale Wonnalancet again retired to 
St. Francis, where he seems to have remained for ten 
years, as there is nothing in the records here to show that 
he was in the Merrimack valley. But in his extreme old 
age the desire to return to the scenes of his early life 
seemed to direct his footsteps back to Wamesit, a poor, 
forlorn old man. With the handful of his followers that 
kept with him, he was placed under the protection of Jona- 
than Tyng, who lived in that part of Old Dunstable now 
comprised in the town of Tyngsboro. He lived with Mr. 
Tyng a little over a year, the province paying the latter 
twenty pounds for that service. And this act of charity, 
about the only kindly deed done him, closes the life record 
of that grand and good man. 

In reviewing the lives of Passaconnaway and Wonna- 
lancet one cannot help feeling they suffered many abuses 
that should have been spared them. Had one or both ex- 
ercised the powerful influence at their command to arouse 
their followers instead of restraining their natural proclivi- 
ties, the early history of New England would have been 
stained with blood where their honesty and magnanimity 
averted the strife. In return for this good work they were 
most cruelly ill-treated and insulted, which to them was 
harder to bear than the former. Their lands were taken 
from them, and they were at times almost reduced to a 
state of starvation — obliged to plead for a little land upon 
which to subsist. 

Nor were theirs isolated cases. King Philip and many 
other sagarnons had similar grievances. Contrast the 



WHEN HUDSON WAS A WILDERNESS 43 

peaceful results of the kind and honorable treatment ac- 
corded to the Indians by Roger Williams, in Rhode Island ; 
William Penn, who settled Pennsylvania, and others, not 
forgetting Father Eliot. 

The Indians were strangers to the higher influence of 
the civilized life, yet there were many great and noble men 
among them — men of honor, ability and principle. Passa- 
connaway and Wonnalancet stood well towards the head of 
this class. 

We believe the blackest page upon American history 
is the record of the ill treatment of the aborigines — the 
poor Indian ! — which treatment began with the discovery 
of the western continent by Columbus, and with greater or 
lesser cruelty, has continued to the present time. An 
anonymous poet expresses the plain truth in forcible lan- 
guage when he makes the heart-broken chieftain say : 

I will go to my tent and lie down in despair; 
I will paint me in black and sever my hair; 
I will sit on the shore when the hurricane blows, 
And reveal to the God of the tempest my woes. 

I will weep for a season on bitterness fed, 

For my kindred have gone to the mounds of the dead ; 

But they died not of hunger or wasting decay, 

For the steel of the white man has swept them away! 

Let us pause for a moment in retrospection, and pic- 
ture to our minds the condition of the region now included 
in the town of Hudson, as it appeared two and a half cen- 
turies ago— in the days when the settlements of the whites 
began to creep up the Merrimack Valley. Where we now 
behold the placid waters of the beautiful river, as they flow 
gently along our western border, calmly seeking the bosom 
of the broad ocean, as if they had never witnessed any 
wilder scene, then the royal canoes of the powerful wildwood 
confederacy of Passaconnaway, passed and repassed on 
the way to and fro between his summer lodge to the 
north or his winter quarters at Pawtucket. 

Here, too, peradventure, upon the shady banks be- 
neath the giant trees of the primeval forest, whose branches 



44 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

had withstood the storms and tempests of hundreds of 
years, he reared the conical walls of his regal wigwam, 
watched the talking smoke of his council fires, as it curled 
lazily upward, and performed his feats of necromancy that 
were both the wonder and the terror of his followers. From 
this same bank of the grand old river the Indians caught 
the salmon, shad, alewives and eels in almost countless 
numbers. 

Here, upon these productive, alluvial intervales, they 
planted their scanty crops and under the harvest moon held 
their forest festival in the autumn. Or it might be, under 
the mighty canopy of oaks, pines and other primeval giants 
of that period covering almost all these hills and valleys, 
the Indian hunter, armed with his bow and quiver of flint- 
pointed arrows, his tomahawk and spear, pursued the state- 
ly moose, or ran down the timid deer. Here also he encoun- 
tered the obstinate bear, outwitted with his imitation call 
the cautious turkey, snared the partridge, squirrel or wild 
pigeon. 

Since then what a change the white man has wrought. 
The woodman's ax, with the help of fire, long since leveled 
the beautiful original forest. The dams of the manufac- 
turers sometime since stopped the migratory flight of the 
finny denizens of the river. The game has mainly fled 
from such forests as remain ; ay, the dusky hunter himself 
has vanished ! 

Let us drop the tear of pity upon the ashes of this race 
whose representative welcomed the Englishmen to their 
wild shore, and preserved them when famine was at their 
door: — those sons of the forest, though savages, possessing 
many of the most worthy and noble traits of character — 
that people scattered over all this broad land, and who ac- 
knowledged fealty to the Great Spirit only. Could the old 
rocks and hills, the mountains, valleys and streams relate 
the scenes that they have witnessed of treachery, oppres- 
sion and destruction committed in their presence, in the 
process of building one race upon the ruins of another, 



WHEN HUDSON WAS A WILDERNESS 45 

possibly the weight of evidence would show that when it 
was all balanced the poor Indian may have been as much 
sinned against by his white neighbors as he was guilty ot 
sinning against them. 



CHAPTER IV 

Dunstable in the Indian Wars 

From the date of the landing of the Pilgrims at Ply- 
mouth, in 1620 r soon after which Samoset, an Indian chief 
belonging to the Wampanoag tribe, suddenly appeared in 
their midst and greeted them with the friendly exclama- 
tion : " Welcome, Englishmen! Welcome, Englishmen !' r 
the colonists had little trouble with the aborigines for more 
than fifty years, that they did not provoke themselves. It 
is true there were wars and rumors of wars along the en- 
tire frontier, the most notable of which was the Pequot 
struggle in 1634-1637, when that warlike faction was prac- 
tically exterminated, the crisis coming with the last des- 
perate stand made by King Philip in 1675. Judging them 
from the conclusions drawn of their character by the earlier 
English writers, the patience and toleration with which 
they bore the treatment of these new-comers seems re- 
markable. There is little doubt that peaceful relations 
might have continued indefinitely had the colonists treated 
them fairly and honestly. 

King Philip's bloody resistance against the English 
was a combined attempt to exterminate the colonists, and 
broke out with little warning in the summer of 1675. He 
was the grandson and successor of Massasoit, with whom 
the Plymouth colonists had made a treaty of peace in 1621 
— a covenant that remained inviolate with the red men for 
that long period. The war was brought to a sudden close 
by the treachery of one of Philip's own followers, who shot 
him in the back as he was leading his forlorn hope From 
this time the alarms of war came from the north instead of 
the south, and the danger rose more from small scouting 
parties of the Indians than from united tribes battling for 
a common cause. 

46 



•DUNSTABLE IN THE INDIAN WARS 47 

Simultaneously with this change of scene of action a 
mew element entered into the prolonged strife. England 
and France were almost constantly at war for a century, 
and always the bitterness of the contention was transplant- 
ed to the shores of the New World. Seeing in them pliant 
allies of destruction, the French sought and won the confi- 
dence and assistance of the untutored red men. The teach- 
ers of this system of warfare were the Jesuits, who by kind 
treatment and ingenious training prepared them for the 
war-trail against an enemy they had no slight reason to 
fear and to hate. 

King William's war in the old country was swiftly fol- 
lowed by an Indian outbreak in New England, lasting from 
1689 to 1698. Scarcely had the news of peace reached the 
colonists here than Queen Anne's war followed in 1703, 
continuing for ten years. The history of the frontier from 
east to west was a series of bloody encounters and massa- 
cres. And during those dark and bloody years Old Dun- 
stable was the outpost of the New England colonists, as 
her fortress had been the watch-tower during King Philip's 
uprising. From her homes went forth some of the bravest 
and strongest of the sturdy yeomanry, building for them- 
selves homes in the wilderness of this ravaged country. 

During the brief cessations of armed hostilities the pio- 
neers were not wholly exempt from the attacks of a foe 
that never seemed to sleep. Thus a constant vigilance and 
watchfulness had to be maintained by the early settlers of 
Dunstable. Yet the censure does not wholly lie against 
the people who were causing this trouble. Fox, in his 
History of Dunstable, says truthfully, "The treatment of 
the Indians by our forefathers generally, and of Wonnalan- 
cet especially, was not Christian and scarcely human." He 
might have gone farther and said with equal truth that 
these brave families who were made to suffer most were 
not the originators of this unhappy situation. To find 
these we must seek them among the disciples of the Mathers 
and their associates. Speaking of the efficiency of prayer, 



48 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Dr. Increase Mather, the leading minister of his time, said : 
"Nor could they cease praying to the Lord against Philip 
until they had prayed the bullet into his heart !" The last 
" prayer " should have been spelled with an "e" where an 
"a" is usually placed. But we need not prolong this dis- 
cussion, if that can be called a discussion where the argu- 
ment is all on one side. 

A decade of comparative peace succeeded Queen 
Anne's war, during which interval the first settlements 
were commenced in Hudson. But these pioneers had 
barely established themselves in their new homes before 
another alarm of war awoke them to renewed danger and 
warlike activity. These ten years had also seen a change 
in the government of New England. Queen Anne had 
died in 1714, and was succeeded by George I. A change 
of rulers at home always resulted in a change of policy in 
regard to the management of the affairs of the colonies of 
England. In the hope of averting this result, the English 
colonists of Massachusetts and New Hampshire petitioned 
to have Governor Dudley remain at the head in New Eng- 
land. This request was ignored, and Samuel Shute was 
appointed Governor of Massachusetts, while George 
Vaughan was made Lieutenant-Governor and virtual ruler 
of New Hampshire. This last became a fact, inasmuch 
as Governor Shute did not arrive until the other had held 
his office a year. 

A question then arose between the two as to the ex- 
tent of Lieutenant-Governor Vaughan's power. He claimed 
that he was ruler of New Hampshire whenever the other 
was not in the province. As Governor Shute intended to 
make his home in Boston, this left him but little to do with 
the government of New Hampshire. The dispute waxed 
so bitter that Vaughan was recalled and John Wentworth, 
destined to act an important, and not altogether unfavora- 
ble, part in affairs was sent to fill his office. 

So, while the colonists were active in pushing deeper 
and deeper into the wilderness, hewing out new homes and 



DUNSTABLE IN THE INDIAN WARS 49 

establishing new townships, internecine troubles that were 
to have considerable bearing upon their fortunes, were re- 
peating themselves in the government both here and in 
England. It was during this period that Londonderry, 
Chester, Barrington, Nottingham and Rochester were 
chartered and incorporated, the signing of these charters 
in 1722 being the last official act of Governor Shute, who 
was succeeded in Massachusetts by Governor Dummer, 
while Lieutenant-Governor Wentworth became the head 
of the government in New Hampshire. 

During this period a new element of population entered 
into colonial life. This factor was the Scotch-Irish, so 
called, immigrants from Scotland finding their way to 
America after being driven out of that country by the Eng- 
lish into the north of Ireland. They settled the township 
of Londonderry granted them by Governor Shute. Com- 
ing at this time, and scarcely in friendly communication 
with their neighbors, the English, they did not participate 
in the border warfare that was disturbing the settlers along 
the Merrimack and about the Pascataqua River. In fact, 
though brave to a fault, I have been unable to find that 
they acted any important part in the long series of wood- 
fighting that followed their arrival in America. This does 
not reflect upon their patriotism, as we find them active 
enough during the seven years of the Revolutionary War. 

At no interval of this cessation of hostilities were the 
Indians wholly quiet, but occasional acts of violence took 
place, until in the summer of 1722 were begun those strug- 
gles that became the fiercest in all the long and sanguinary 
warfare of Northern New England. 

At this time Sebastian Rasle, S. J., one of the most 
zealous of the French missionaries in New France, estab- 
lished his mission at Norridgewock, on the Kennebec Riv- 
er, near where is now the town of Farmington, Maine. 
The simple red men looked upon this black-robed man of 
God as a true father, and he in turn encouraged them to 
lift the hatchet against that race which he had been taught 



50 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

to hate since childhood. Realizing that if they could de- 
stroy this stronghold of the French it would be a powerful 
blow towards winning their own safety, the English re- 
solved to march against it. In the winter of 1722, Colonel 
Westbrook of York, Me., led an expedition up the Kenne- 
bec River, but was unsuccessful in his purpose. This 
seemed to give the French priest an excuse for greater ac- 
tivity, and the settlements in Maine, which then belonged 
to Massachusetts, were the first to suffer, Merry-Meeting 
Bay and Brunswick among them. Governor Dummer then 
declared war, a conflict which afterwards bore his name, 
while it has been equally as well known as Lovewell's War, 
for reasons to be made plain later. 

As usual Dover was the first town in that section of 
New Hampshire to feel the dread attack of the dusky ene- 
mies. Then Lamprey River, now Newmarket, Oyster 
River (Durham), Kingston and Chester shared in this cruel 
warfare. In 1724 a second expedition against Norridge- 
wock was planned and carried into effect that summer by 
Captains Moulton and Harmon at the head of over two 
hundred men. This body was divided into four companies, 
and besides the leaders mentioned were Captains Bourne 
and Bane, or Bean according to later spelling. This party 
was piloted by a friendly Mohawk chief known to the 
whites as Christian. The raid was victorious. The In- 
dians were not only surprised and completely routed, but 
their beloved adviser, Father Rasle, was slain, the chapel 
burned, the plate and furniture brought away as trophies 
of their victory by the conquerors.* Thus perished at 68 
years of age Father Rasle, in a cause to which he had de- 
voted over thirty years of his life with an earnestness 
equalled only by his zeal. If the taking of his life was to 
be justified or not, it is certain his teachings made a dan- 



* When the mission village of Norridgewock was attacked by the New England men, 
the women and children were made to suffer the fate of warriors. The scholarly miisionary, 
Rasles, author of the Abnaki Dictionary, was shot down at the foot of the cross, where he 
was afterwards found with his body riddled with balls, his skull crushed and scalped, his 
mouth and eyes filled with earth, his limbs broken, and all of his members mutilated— and 
this by white men.— American Ethnology, Vol. 19. 



DUNSTABLE IN THE INDIAN WARS 51 

gerous element in the midst of the English settlers in New 
England, and neither he nor his slayers can be correctly 
judged under any other light than the spirit of the times. 

While the glory of the valiant Canibas tribe of red 
men had forever flown with this rout at Norridgewock, and 
the survivors were compelled to seek refuge at St. Francis, 
in Canada, instead of striking terror to the remaining In- 
dians as had been expected, it awoke, if that were possible, 
a fiercer spirit of hatred for the race they could not help 
seeing was destined to become their destroyers. Thus the 
New England frontier from the intervales of Old Dunsta- 
ble to the meadows of the Madawaska rang with the war- 
hoop of the dusky avengers, while the torch of terror light- 
ed the nights of horror. Profiting by the mistakes of the 
past the Indians were now more cautious in their attacks 
and more cunning in their retreats, so they were difficult 
to hunt down. The English sent scouting party after party 
into the wilderness to strike a retaliating blow, and check 
these depredations, with only meagre success. 

Where the Saco River makes a bold bend to the north- 
east so as to almost double on its track, after leaving the 
gateway of the mountains, dwelt a tribe of Indians known 
as the Sokoki, with another encampment lower down this 
stream where it is joined by the Ossipee. This place was 
an ideal spot for these hunters and warriors of the wilder- 
ness. A wide circuit of rich country afforded them rare 
hunting-grounds, while the river and ponds near by abound- 
ed with fish. In their canoes they could follow the devious 
windings of the Saco for a distance of over forty miles, and 
at the end of this pleasure trip find themselves but a little 
over a mile from their starting point, and easy portage 
back to their lodges. 

The Sokoki had been settled at this place known to 
them as Pequaket* hard by the river at the foot of the 



* Pequaket — Pequawket — Pigwaeket— means, or is from Paqui-auk-et, meaning "at 
the open land." There was an Indian town here longer than any historian has been able to 
tell— Trumbull. 



52 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

"Pine-Tree Hill," longer than tradition attempts to tell. 
They were originally a numerous tribe, good fighters, and 
while fiery and furious when aroused, less inclined to treach- 
ery than some of the other families of red men. Like the 
Pennacooks, they had suffered fearfully at the hands of the 
Mohawks, and in wars with them and other tribes had dwin- 
dled away. Their last great sachem was the noted Squan- 
don ; their last great captain, Paugus. 

Following the rout of the Canibas at Norridgewock, 
the Sokoki became unusually active against the English. 
It was known that the Governor of Canada had asked the 
King of France to furnish these Indians with arms, ammu- 
nition and blankets, which explains in part this unwonted 
activity. Fear and excitement reigned throughout the en- 
tire frontier settlements, and it began to look as though 
the whole border would be desolated. 

In this plight the court of Massachusetts increased the 
bounty on Indian scalps from fifty to one hundred pounds 
each, and sought to encourage men to undertake expedi- 
tions against them. In extenuation of this course it was 
claimed, with apparent truthfulness, that the French were 
doing the same, and what was of even greater potency, of- 
fering high rewards for the possession of captives that 
might be made useful in a country where laborers and ser- 
vants were only too scarce. These facts, together with 
the savage barbarity shown by the dusky warriors towards 
the helpless whites, were sufficient excuse for the act, when, 
as has been remarked, the spirit of the times is taken into 
consideration. But it cannot condone a wrong, nor bright- 
en the stern countenances of those civilized men silhouetted 
against a background of aboriginal darkness. If the fol- 
lowers of Canibas and Paugus were cruel, and there is no 
gainsaying the fact, when they had been urged and driven 
to desperation, there is no excuse for their educated con- 
querors to practice similar cruelties. The beheading and 
quartering of the mutilated body of King Philip is ample 
evidence that it takes more than a change of scene to re- 



DUNSTABLE IN THE INDIAN WARS 5S 

■move the glut of vengeance from a people whose kin at 
home exulted in exposing to the public gaze the heads of 
those who had been unfaithful to the government they 
deemed tyrannical, as was done in London at Temple Bar 
tor many years. Darker yet than these deeds perpetrated 
upon warlike men was the sending into bondage in faraway 
Bermuda the wife and little son of King Philip under 
sanction of the church. 

Indian warfare was conducted almost wholly along the 
rivers of the country, and those settlements upon the 
banks of the different streams were thus made certain tar- 
gets for their enemies. Thus the old town of Dunstable, 
lying on both sides of the Merrimack, became the scene of 
some bitter hand-to-hand combats. 

September 4, 1724, two men by the names of Nathan 
Cross and Thomas Blanchard were surprised by a party ot 
Indians and taken captives while at work preparing turpen- 
tine from pines growing on the bank of the Nashua River. 
As they did not return from their work as usual that even- 
ing, their friends became alarmed. In the morning a party 
consisting of ten under the direction of Lt. Ebenezer 
French started in search of the missing men. Upon reach- 
ing the scene of the operations of Cross and Blanchard it 
was found that the hoops of the barrels containing the tur- 
pentine had been cut and their contents had spread upon 
the ground. Certain marks upon the trees told them that 
their friends had been captured by the Indians, while the 
state of the turpentine showed that the captors had fin- 
ished their work only a short time before. This encouraged 
Lieutenant French and his companions to begin immedi- 
ate pursuit in the hope of overtaking them. 

Josiah Farwell, a member of the rescue party, advised 
taking a circuitous course, lest they should fall into an am- 
bush laid by the red men. Lieutenant French not only 
scorned this prudent course but accused Farwell of cow- 
ardice, himself leading in the path recently taken by the 
Indians, his companions following in single file, Farwell in 



54 HISTORY OF HUDSON" 

the rear. "Their route," says the historian of Dunstable, 
Mr. C. J. Fox, "was up the Merrimack towards which they 
bent their course to look for their horses upon the inter- 
vals. At the brook * near Lutwych's (now Thornton's) 
Ferry they were waylaid. The Indians fired upon them 
and killed the larger part instantly. A few fled and were 
overtaken and destroyed. French was killed about a mile 
from the place of action under an oak tree lately standing 
(1840) in a field belonging to Mr. John Lund of Merrimack. 
Farwell, in the rear, seeing those before him fall, sprung 
behind a tree, discharged his piece and ran The Indians 
pursued him. The chase was vigorously maintained for 
some time, without either gaining much advantage, until 
Farwell passing through a thicket, the Indians lost sight of 
him, and probably fearing he might have loaded again, they 
abandoned further pursuit. He was the only one of the 
company that escaped." 

The names of the men, besides those given, were 
Thomas Lund, Oliver Farwell, and Ebenezer Cummings of 
Dunstable ; Daniel Baldwin and John Burbank of Woburn, 
and a Mr. Johnson of Plainfield, Mass. Messrs. Cross and 
Blanchard, the captives, succeeded eventually in escaping 
from their enemies after being taken to Canada. 

A search of their friends resulted in finding the bodies 
of eight of the unfortunate men, and these were conveyed 
to the ancient burial ground near the state line. Coffins 
were made for them, and with uncommon solemnity and 
sorrow the entire party was interred in one grave. Above 
this spot a monument was erected, with the following in- 
scription copied verbatim et literatim: 
MEMENTO MORI 
Here lies the body of Mr. Thomas Lund who departed this life Sept. 
5th, 1724, in the 42d year of his age. 

This man with seven more that lies in this grave was slew all in a 
day by the Indians ! 



* Naticook Brook, the «tream which crossed the road just above Thornton's, 
scene of the Ambush must have been near the present highway. — Fox 



DUNSTABLE IN THE INDIAN WARS 5b 

Three other grave stones stand close beside the above, 
their inscriptions covered with moss and nearly illegible. 
Of these one was erected to Lt. Oliver Farwell, aged 33 
years; another to Mr. Ebenezer Cummings, aged 29 years; 
the third to the memory of Mr. Benjamin Carter, aged 23 
years. 

Some of the earlier writers state that the Indians who 
•committed this act were Mohawks, but this does not seem 
likely. The fact that the captives were taken to Canada 
would disprove it, as the Mohawks were in no manner 
friendly to the French from the days of Champlain to the 
end of the French and Indian War in 1760. This party be- 
longed no doubt to the Ameriscoggins, the remnants of 
which tribe, smarting under the blow dealt them by the 
English, were then hovering about the French mission on 
the St. Lawrence River. 

The critical situation and loss of life to the inhabitants 
of Old Dunstable is shown in the following deposition of two 
of her most venerable citizens, the parents of Captain John 
Lovewell, the paper having been brought to light from 
among the court files of New Hampshire, by Hon. Ezra S. 
Stearns in his researches concerning that period, where 
it had slumbered more than one hundred and fifty years: 

Facts Concerning the Indian Depredations in Dunstable. 

The deposition of John Lovewell aged ninety-three and Anna his 
wife aged about eighty-three years, who testify & say that in the year 1680 
they were Inhabitants and residents in Dunstable & have been Inhabi- 
tants and residents there since and that in the said year 1680 there were 
35 families settled in Dunstable beside several single men who were resi- 
dent there and owned Lots in said Town & further saith that in the first 
ten years War for one summer the Inhabitants all gathered in the garri- 
son and that about fifty-five years ago in the month of August in the same 
Town there was killed by the Indians Four of the Inhabitants and in 
September next following two more was killed and one wounded and 
about forty-eight years ago of the same Town there was one killed and 
two captivated and about the same time there was one killed or captivat- 
ed and about thirty-nine years ago in Dunstable there was eleven Persons 
killed and three captivated by the Indians & one House & Garrison 
burned down at the same Time and that about thirty-three years ago there 



56 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

was one Person killed and one wounded in Dunstable and the year follow- 
ing in Dunstable there was one man killed and in the year following there- 
was one more man captivated & carried to Canada and in the year 1724 
there was eight persons killed one wounded and four captivated in Dunsta- 
ble and in the year 1725 there was of the Inhabitants of Dunstable five 
killed and two wounded all which Mischiefs was done by the Indians in the 
time of War— and in the year 1680'the Revd. Mr. Thomas Weld preached 
in Dunstable and continued there until he was ordained there to the work, 
of the ministry which was about two years after and that from the time- 
we first came to Dunstable the Inhabitants has never drawn off. 

his 
John X Lovewell 
mark 

her 
Anna X Lovewell 
mark 

Province of New Hampshire 

March 16, 1744. 

Then the above named John Lovewell and Anna Lovewell made sol- 
emn Oath to the truth of the foregoing Deposition by them signed relat- 
ing to an Action of Ejectment wherein one Joseph Kidder is Apellant & 
the Proprietors of Londonderry are Apellers to be heard and tried at the 
superior court of Judicature to be holden at Portsmouth in said Province 
on Tuesday the nineteenth day of this instant March by adjournment 
from the first Tuesday of February last past — the Deponents living more 
than five miles from Portsmouth where the case is to be tried & the said 
Proprietors of Londonderry the Adverse Party being duly notified was 
present by one of their committee for Law suits viz: sworn before Samuel 
Emerson. 

J. PEACE. 

The foregoing deposition throws new light upon the 
number of persons killed by the Indians in the ancient 
township of Dunstable. It is an important document. 
The statement " about fifty-five years ago," probably refers 
to 1691, when Joseph Hassel, Anna his wife and Benjamin 
his son and Mary Marks were killed September 2, and to 
the killing of Christopher Temple and Obediah Perry, 
which occurred on the 28th of the same month. 

The second statement, that about forty-eight years be- 
fore one person had been killed and two captured, while 



DUNSTABLE IN THE INDIAN WARS 57 

later there was one killed or " captivated," is not mentioned 
in the traditions of the town. The death of eleven per- 
sons killed and three carried into captivity in 1705, as given 
by the Lovewells, mainly occurred in 1706, when Nathan- 
iel Blanchard, Lydia, his wife, and one child, and Hannah 
Blanchard and Elizabeth, wife of John Cummings, Jr., and 
Rachel Galusha were murdered by the Indians and consid- 
ering the number of soldiers killed the same day at the 
Weld garrison, there is a marked conflict in the traditions 
of the town. 

The witnesses speak of three captives. 

The wife of Captain Butterfield, Richard Samuel But- 
terfield and Samuel Whitney, Senior, were captured about 
this date. 

The statement that in 1711 and the two succeeding 
years two were killed, one wounded and one captured is 
not found in other mentions, and it is perhaps that a few 
of the casualties generally supposed to have taken place in 
1706 or immediately preceding occurred at this time. 

In 1724 the deponents say eight were killed, one 
wounded and four captured. This statement refers to the 
losses near Thornton's Ferry. The witnesses do not al- 
lege that all of the dead were residents of Dunstable. The 
names of the persons killed were Ebenezer French, Thomas 
Lund, Oliver Farwell, Ebenezer Cummings, Benjamin 

Carter, Daniel Baldwin, John Burbank, Johnson. 

The first five were Dunstable men. 

All of the foregoing casualties, according to the state- 
ments of the Lovewells, occurred in Dunstable. In the 
allegation that in the year 1725 there were of the inhabi- 
tants five killed and two wounded, there is no mention of 
the place where the casualties took place. The venerable 
witnesses, mindful of the loss of their son, referred to the 
Lovewell fight at Pequaket. The five Dunstable men who 
were slain in that memorable expedition were Capt. John 
Lovewell, Lt. Josiah Farwell, Lt. Jonathan Robbins, En- 
sign John Harwood and Robert Usher. Samuel Whiting, 



58 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Jr., was one of the two Dunstable men said to have been 
wounded. 

It is stated on good authority that during these trou- 
blesome times Robert Parris, his wife and one daughter 
were killed by the Indians, and that two daughters escaped, 
one of whom married a Richardson and the other became 
the wife of John Goffe, and was the mother of Col. John 
Goffe, a conspicuous character in the annals of New Hamp- 
shire. It is well known that John Goffe, generally distin- 
guished as Esquire Goffe, married Hannah Parris, some- 
times written Parish. Fox, in his History of Dunstable, 
says that the massacre of the Pan is family occurred some- 
time in 1703, but Col. John Goffe was born in 1701, which 
leads to the presumption that the Parris massacre was 
at an earlier date than that given by Mr. Fox. 

The statement that John Lovewell lived to the great 
age of 120 years has repeatedly appeared in print. It is 
one of those peculiar traditions that the curious seize upon 
without investigation. It is admitted that he died about 
1752, and it is equally certain that his age did not exceed 
102 years. 

From this deposition of the Lovewells we learn that 
from 1696 to 1725, inclusive, the number of persons killed 
by the Indians was thirty-three; wounded, five; made cap- 
tives, eleven ; with one either killed or carried away a 
captive. This made a total of fifty, all inhabitants of the 
little settlement of Dunstable. Fox produces evidence to 
show that in twenty years the population decreased fully 
one-half, notwithstanding the additions that were made. 
The Dunstable settlement extended to the east side of the 
Merrimack River, now Hudson, probably not earlier, but 
soon after the close of Queen Anne's War in 1713. 

Referring to the loss of lives among the colonists, it 
was estimated that from 1675 to 1714 the provinces of 
Massachusetts and New Hampshire lost six thousand (6000) 
young men and male children, including those who were 
killed and those who were made captives without ever being 



DUNSTABLE IN THE INDIAN WARS 59 

recovered. Add to this the loss of men, women and chil- 
dren that occurred during the nearly half a century of In- 
dian warfare that followed, and, considering the number of 
inhabitants, we have an appalling number. 



CHAPTER V 

Lovewell's Men 

This war, after having continued for nearly three years, 
was brought to a close by the bloody battle at Pequawket, 
May 8, 1725. The leaders in this sanguinary struggle were 
the brave Capt. John Lovewell and his intrepid men, and 
Chief Paugus and his band of warriors, equally as brave 
and fearless. This was one of the fiercest and most fatal 
to both sides, of all the battles fought on the old New 
England frontier. It was also the end of a succession of 
wars, which, with a few cessations, had existed for fifty 
years. Judge Potter, in his History of Manchester, gives 
the following account of this expedition and its results : 

"The expedition started about the 16th of April, 1725, 
answering to the 27th of April, New Style. When out but 
a short time, Toby, a friendly Indian attached to the expe- 
dition, becoming lame was sent back, with great reluctance 
on his part. 

"At Contoocook, William Cummings of Dunstable, 
became so lame in consequence of a wound received from 
the enemy sometime previous, that he was obliged to re- 
turn home, a kinsman, possibly Josiah Cummings, return- 
ing with him to assist him on his way. 

" They then marched without any unusual incident to 
Ossipee, where one of their number, Benjamin Kidder, of 
Nuffield, now Londonderry, being sick, they built a small 
fort, as a place of refuge in case of mishap. While the 
fort was building a portion of the men were kept out on 
scout duty, and discovered the tracks of Indians. 

" After a tarry of two or three days, leaving the sick 
man, the doctor to take charge of him, and Sergeant Na- 
thaniel Woods of Dunstable, with seven men to hold the 
fort, Lovewell and his men, now reduced in number to 
60 



LOVEWELL S MEN 



til 



thirty-four, boldly marched for Pequauquauke, distant some 

twenty miles. 

"The names of these thirty-four men were: 

Asten, Abiel, Haverhill 

Ayer, Ebenezer, Haverhill 

Barron, Elias, Groton 

Chamberlain, John, Groton 

Davis, Eleazer, Concord 

Davis, Josiah, Concord 

Farrah, Jacob, Concord 

Farrah, Joseph, Concord 

Farwell, Josiah, Lieut., Dunstable 

Frye, Jonathan, Chap., Andover 

Fullam, Jacob, Serg., Weston 

Gilson, Joseph, Groton 

Harwood, Jno., Ensign, Dunstable 

Hassel, Benjamin, Corporal, Dunstable 

Jefts, John, Groton 

Johnson, Ichabod, Woburn 

Johnson, Josiah, Woburn 

Johnson, Noah, Serg., Dunstable 

Jones, Josiah, Concord 

Kies, Solomon, Billerica 

Kittredge, Jonathan, Billerica 

Lakin, Isaac, Groton 

Lingfield, Edward, Corp., Nuffield 

Lovewell, John, Capt., Dunstable 

Melvin, Daniel, Concord 

Melvin, Eleazer, Concord 

Robbins, Jona., Ensign, Dunstable 
Richardson, Thomas, Corp., Woburn 

Richardson, Timothy, Woburn 

Usher, Robert, Dunstable 

Whiting, Samuel, Dunstable 

Woods, Daniel, Groton 

Woods, Thomas, Ensign, Groton 

Wyman, Seth, Woburn 



62 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

"The company continued their march in a northerly 
direction, with great caution, fancying they had been dis- 
covered by the Indians. 

"On Friday, the 7th of May, they heard a gun as they 
approached the Saco, but coming to the river, they met 
with no Indians, although they discovered their tracks. 
They struck the Saco, probably in the eastern part of Con- 
way. Taking an easterly course they passed upon the high 
ground down the Saco, and diverging south, struck the 
basin of Pequauquauke south of what is now called Stark's 
hill. Here they had a full view of the basin and of Saco 
pond, just at their feet. 

"This was near night, and they cautiously descended 
the hill and encamped upon the shore of the pond. In the 
night the sentinels thought they heard the noise of In- 
dians about the encampment, and alarmed their compan- 
ions, but it was very dark and they could make no further 
discovery. 

" It was probably the noise of some wild animal, a 
moose perhaps, as they were near the spot where these 
animals usually took to the water. This incident confirmed 
their suspicions that the Indians were dogging them, and 
these suspicions led to a fatal error, as the sequel will show. 

"On the next day, May 8th, (May 19, New Style), 
about ten o'clock in the morning, while at prayers, they 
heard a gun across the pond, and Captain Lovewell dis- 
covered a solitary Indian upon a stony point of land run- 
ning out into the pond from the east. This Indian was 
hunting ducks. It is possible he might have gone from 
the village duck-hunting, but it is quite as probable that he 
was one of a scout of Indians that had been down the 
Saco, and had been sent forward at this point to get a shot 
at ducks in sight. Be this as it may, Lovewell and his 
men, supposing they had been discovered the night previ- 
ous and before, at once suspected that he was sent out as 
a decoy, and popular tradition has kept up the suspicion, 
as the point on which the Indian stood is called 'Decoy 
Point ' to this day. 



lovewell's men 63 

" They accordingly held a consultation to determine 
whether they would proceed to attack the enemy, which 
they supposed was in waiting for them on the north shore 
of the pond, or whether they should retreat. The question 
being put, the men boldly answered, says Rev. Mr. 
Symmes, ' We came to see the enemy ; we have all along 
prayed God we might find them ; and we had rather trust 
Providence with our lives, yes, die for our country, than 
try to return without seeing them, if we might, and be 
called cowards for our pains.' 

" It was determined unanimously to fight, and they 
commenced preparations in earnest. In order to be entire- 
ly disencumbered, Lovevvell ordered his men to leave their 
packs behind, but without a guard. The spot where they 
left their packs was some thirty rods west of the little 
brook that enters into the pond southeast of the present 
village of Fryeburg, Me. 

" Lovewell then led on his men cautiously towards 
the Indian, who was seen upon the point, a distance of 
about a mile and a half, principally, for the first half of the 
way, through a pitch pine wood, clear of underbrush, and 
the brakes but just started. The Indian got within four 
or six rods before they discovered him, having two guns 
and a brace of clucks in his hands. 

" Upon discovering him Lovewell and his men squat- 
ted upon the ground; but as they did so, the Indian dis- 
covered them, and dropping his extra gun and his game, he 
quickly fired upon them and with fatal effect, for his gun 
being charged with large shot, he wounded Captain Love- 
well and Mr. Whiting, the former severely. Ensign Wy- 
man then fired upon the Indian and killed him, and Mr. 
Frye, the chaplain, and another scalped him. 

"Tradition says that young Frye fired at the Indian 
and missed him, and that his misfire made him the more 
zealous to get his scalp. Meantime a scout of Indians, 
some forty in number, under Paugus and W T ahowah, com- 
ing up the pond from a scout down the Saco, crossed the 



64 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

trail of Lovewell's men, and following it, discovered their 
packs, and finding their number less than their own, they 
at once determined to attack them. Accordingly, secur- 
ing their packs, they proceeded to the brook before de- 
scribed, and under its banks, formed an ambuscade for Love- 
well and his party. 

" Passing east from this brook, you immediately come 
upon the highest part of the pitch pine plain, lying north 
of the pond. This part of the plain terminates at the 
pond, in a ridge or bold shore, against which are piled up 
boulders of rock, evidently the effect of ice. East of this 
point of rocks is a ridge of sand, extending parallel to the 
water, some fifty or sixty rods to another brook, emptying 
into the pond from the northeast, and now known as ' Fight 
Brook.' 

" This sand ridge was from four to six rods wide, hav- 
ing upon it some scattered pines, and limited on the north 
the most of its length by a swamp, extending west from 
the aforesaid brook, and which, in the spring, is filled with 
water, forming of this sand ridge a long, narrow peninsula, 
only accessible from the plain at its western extremity, 
in the vicinity of the aforesaid point of rocks. 

"Lovewell and his men were leisurely returning upon 
their trail, and probably with less caution than usual, as 
they had not found the enemy they went out to meet, when 
coming to the bank of the little brook before named, the 
Indians rose from their ambush and fired upon them in 
front and rear, rushing upon them with shouts of defiance. 

" Captain Lovewell was killed at the first shot, and 
our men were struck with surprise at the suddenness of the 
attack. But they immediately returned the fire with dead- 
ly effect, killing nine of the enemy upon the spot. The 
company then dispersed, each one getting behind a tree 
and firing upon the enemy as he got a chance. The firing 
continued brisk, but soon Captain Lovewell and eight 
others being killed, and Lieutenant Farwell and two others 
being wounded, and the Indians attempting to surround 



lovewell's men 65 

them, the party determined to retreat to the shore of the 
pond, hoping to be sheltered by the point of rocks that ran 
into the pond. 

" Here, behind this ' ridge of land ' and barrier of rocks, 
they continued the fight to advantage, gradually extending 
themselves across upon the sand before described, and 
protecting themselves behind the scattered pines. Here 
was an excellent position for an attack, but a very bad one 
for a siege, and had the Indians known their advantage, 
they could easily have destroyed the whole company. If, 
instead of immediate attack, they had quietly seated them- 
selves at the only approach to the peninsula, hunger would 
have done its work, and not a man of Lovewell's gallant 
band could have escaped. But the Indians could not brook 
delay, and confident of success from superior numbers, 
they continued the attack, firing at any one of the little 
band who happened to expose a part of his body. 

" Under the direction of Ensign Wyman, the firing 
was kept up with spirit on the part of our men, and with 
decided effect. The Indians kept up a continual shout, at 
one time howling like wolves, and again barking like dogs, 
or mimicking other wild beasts. And the English were 
nothing loth in this kind of defiance, but returned their 
howling with shouts and huzzas. 

" Towards the mid-afternoon the Indians ceased firing, 
and drew off among the pines, at a little distance, to pow- 
wow over their success. They had got earnestly engaged 
in the ceremony, when the intrepid Wyman crept up be- 
hind the rocks and trees, and firing upon the principal actor 
killing him on the spot. This man may have been Waho- 
wah, as we hear nothing of him afterwards. 

" Be this as it may, the fight was resumed with great 
ferocity, under the immediate direction of Paugus. Ensign 
Wyman continued to cheer on his men, and they fought with 
all their skill and energy of desperation, but with terrify- 
ing disadvantage, as the Indians were near twice their 
number, and had them completely at their will. To add to 



66 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

their misfortune, their chaplain, Jonathan Frye, about this 
time fell mortally wounded, as also Lieutenant Jonathan 
Robbins, who had been wounded at the first fire, and Jacob 
Farrar. 

" Young Frye, though unable to stand, continued to 
pray audibly for the success of his companions, at inter- 
vals, during the remainder of the fight. Thus disheartened, 
the firing on their part became less brisk ; and the Indians, 
confident of their success, came forward, and holding up 
a rope, to show that they had them in their power and 
ready to be bound, offered them quarter. 

"The intrepid Wyman replied that 'they would have 
no quarter but what they won at the point of their mus- 
kets.' The fight was then renewed, and towards night the 
enemy succeded in getting upon the peninsula or beach, 
some of them at least. Among this number was Paugus, 
their chief, who took refuge behind a pine within talking 
distance of John Chamberlain, one of the best shots in 
Lovewell's party. 

"They looked at each other from behind the trees, 
each endeavoring to detect an exposed part in the person 
of the other, and at length each one thinking he had the 
other at an advantage, aimed his musket to fire ; each gun 
flashed in the pan ; and their attempts were in vain ! 

"Their guns had become foul from frequent firing 
during the day, and were useless. In this dilemma, these 
bold men, who were acquainted with each other, agreed to 
go down to the water side, and cleanse their guns, and 
then take their places and renew the fight. No sooner 
said than done, and they deliberately went down to the 
water and commenced washing their guns, the warriors on 
both sides understanding their motives and leaving them 
to themselves ! 

" In cleansing their guns and charging them, Paugus 
got the advantage ; his ball was so small as to roll down his 
barrel, while Chamberlain had to force his down with his 
rod. Paugus, seeing his advantage, quickly said, ' Me kill 
you ! ' and took up his gun to prime. 



lovewell's men 67 

" Chamberlain threw down his rod, and bringing the 
breech of his gun a smart blow upon the hard sand, brought 
it to his face and fired ! 

" Paugus fell pierced through the heart ! 

"Chamberlain's gun being worn from long use primed 
itself; and the knowledge of this saved the bold hunter's 
life. * 

"After the death of Paugus, their chief, the Indians 
gradually ceased firing, and soon after sunset drew off into 
the woods, leaving the field to our men, who remained quiet 



* In embodying Judge Potter's account of Lovewell's fight, I have asked Mr. Webster's 
permission to add a few words of contradiction to the description of the fate of the Sokokis 
chief, Paugus, though the story as given has been accepted by several writers, among them 
Fox, Bouton, Sanborn, Potter, and others. This version of the incident seems to have orig- 
inated with a very unreliable person named Elijah Russell, seventy-four years after the bat- 
tle, and a long time after Chamberlain's death. Fox evidently supposed it to be a true ac- 
count, and singularly enough as careful a historian as the Rev. Nathaniel Bouton, in reprint- 
ing Rev. Thomas Symmes' sermon upon the affair, took the Russell fabrication instead of 
the original by the Bradford minister, who made no mention of the Chamberlain-Paugus 
duel. None of the early writers credit Chamberlain with the deed, as witness four lines from 
one of the ballads written soon after the event: 

" And yet our valiant Englishmen in fight were ne'er dismayed, 

But still they kept their motion, and Wyman Captain made. 
' ' Who shot the old Chief Paugus, which did the foe defeat, 
And set his men in order, and brought off the retreat?" 

Hill in his "Reminiscences of Old Dunstable," after reviewing several versions of the 
incident, says flatly, " The utter absurdity of the story is apparent frcm the fact that never 
before has it been known that in the midst of deadly battle, the combatants by mutual agiee- 
ment have ceased to fight in order to go and wash out their guns, and the additional fact 
that their guns having flashed in the pan, there must have remained full charges of powder 
and ball in the barrels, which must be drawn before the washing could be done, and the ex- 
treme improbability that either or both of them had, in pocket or pouch, the apparatus need- 
ed for this operation; and the further fact, that after their guns had been washed they must 
be carefully wiped and dried before they could be in use again, a process requiring time that 
could ill be spared in the midst of such a warm and deadly contest, for the Cromwellian 
maxim ' to trust in God and keep your powder dry ' was as imperative in an Indian fight as 
in more civilized warfare." 

The Rev. Mr. Allen in his centennial address given at Merrimack in 1846, says that John 
Chamberlain, of Lovewell's expedition, settled in that town, and built a sawmill on the Sou- 
hegan. There is a stirring legend told of an Indian, a son of Paugus, who sought to surprise 
the slayer of his father and avenge his death. But the doughty millman was too cunning for 
his foe, who fell by his unerring musket. As matters of fact this Chamberlain was not the 
John who fought with Lovewel!, but a cousin, who married a daughter of Josiah Farwell, the 
only survivor of the scouting party killed by the Indians near Thornton's Ferry; the In- 
dians had ceased their predatory warfare in this vicinity; while the only son of Paugus 
known to have escaped the Pequaket slaughter was Philip, a trusted comrade of John Stark 
during the Seven Years War, and a patriotic soldier in the American Revolution.— G. W. 
Browne. 



68 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

for some time, fearing their return, or that they were lying 
in wait for them. It was supposed and confirmed by reports 
afterwards, that the Indians' loss, in killed and wounded, 
included the entire party, except about twenty. About 
midnight our men, hearing no more from the Indians, as- 
sembled together and inquired into their respective situa- 
tions. 

" It was found that there were twenty-three men upon 
the peninsula, of whom Jacob Farrar was just 'expiring by 
the pond,' and Lieutenant Robbins and Robert Usher were 
unable to travel. 

"The Rev. Mr. Symmes says: 

"'Lieut. Robbins desired his companions to charge his 
gun and leave it with him, which they did; he declaring 
that, 'As the Indians will come in the morning to scalp 
me, I will kill one or more of them, if I can.'" 

"There were eleven more of the English who were 
badly wounded, viz.: Lieutenant Farwell, Mr. Frye, Ser- 
geant Johnson, Timothy Richardson, Josiah Johnson, Sam- 
uel Whiting, Elias Barron, John Chamberlain, Isaac Lakin, 
Eleazer Davis, and Josiah Jones ; but they, however, marched 
off the ground with the nine others who received no con- 
siderable wounds, viz.: Ensign Wyman, Edward Ling- 
field, Thomas Richardson, the two Melvins, Ebenezer 
Ayre, Abial Asten, Joseph Fa.rrar and Joseph Gilson. 

" These all proceeded on their return to the fort, and 
did not perceive that they were waylaid or pursued by the 
enemy, though they knew our men had no provisions, and 
must, therefore, be very faint. Four of the wounded men, 
viz.: Farwell, Frye, Davis and Jones, after they had trav- 
elled about a mile and a half, found themselves unable to go 
further, and with their own free consent, the rest kept on 
the march, hoping to find a recruit at the fort, and to re- 
turn with fresh hands to relieve them. 

" As they proceeded on, they divided into three com- 
panies one morning, as they were passing a thick wood, for 
fear of making a track by which the enemy might follow 



LOVEWELL S MEN b» 

them. One of the companies came upon three Indians, 
who pursued them some time ; meanwhile Elias Barron, 
one of the party, strayed from the others, and got over Os- 
sipee River, by the side of which his gun case was found, 
and he was not heard of afterwards. 

"Eleven in another party reached the fort at Ossipee, 
but to their great disappointment found it deserted. The 
coward who fled in the beginning of the battle ran directly 
to the fort and gave the men posted there such a frightful 
account of what had happened that they all fled from the 
fort and made the best of their way home. 

"Solomon Keyes also came to the fort. When he had 
fought the battle till he had received three wounds, and 
had become so weak from the loss of blood that he could 
not stand, he crawled up to Ensign Wyman in the heat of 
battle, and told him he was a dead man, 'but (said he), if it 
is possible I will get out of the way of the Indians that 
they may not get my scalp.' Keyes then crept to the side 
of the pond to where he providentially found a canoe, 
when he rolled himself into it, and was driven by the 
wind several miles towards the fort; he gained strength 
fast and reached the fort as soon as the eleven before 
mentioned; and they all arrived at Dunstable on the 13th 
of May at night. 

" On the 15th of May, Ensign Wyman and three others 
arrived at Dunstable They informed that they were desti- 
tute of all kinds of food from a Saturday morning till the 
Wednesday following ; when they caught two mouse squir- 
rels, which they roasted whole, and found to be a sweet 
morsel. They afterwards killed some partridges, and other 
game, and were comfortably supplied until they got home. 

"Eleazer Davis arrived at Berwick, and reported that 
he and the three that were left with him, waited some 
days for the return of the men from the fort, and at length 
despairing of their return, though their wounds were putri- 
fied and stank, and they were almost dead with famine, yet 
they travelled on several miles together, till Mr. Frye de- 



70 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

sired Davis and Farwell not to hinder themselves any 
longer on his account, for he found himself dying, and he 
laid himself down, telling them he should never rise more, 
and charged Davis, if it should please God to bring him 
home, to go to his father and tell him that he expected in 
a few hours to be in eternity, and that he was not afraid to 
die. They left, and this amiable and promising young 
gentleman, who had a journal of the march in his pocket, 
was not heard of again. 

" Lieutenant Farwell, who was greatly and no doubt 
deservedly applauded and lamented, was also left by Davis 
within a few miles of the fort, and was not afterwards heard 
of. But Davis getting to the fort, and finding provisions 
there, tarried and refreshed himself, and recovered strength 
to travel to Berwick. 

"Josiah Jones, another of the four wounded who were 
left the day after the fight but a short distance from the 
scene of action, traversed Saco River, and after a fatiguing 
ramble arrived at Saco (now Biddeford) emaciated and al- 
most dead from the loss of blood, the putrification of his 
wounds and the want of food. He had subsisted on the 
spontaneous vegetables of the forest and cranberries, etc., 
which he had eaten. He was kindly treated by the people 
of Saco, and recovered of his wounds. 

" Lieutenant Josiah Farwell of Dunstable and Elias 
Barron of Groton were wounded and died by the way in 
attempting to reach home. 

"The soldier who fled from the battlefield so inglori- 
ously was Benjamin Hassel, a corporal in the company. 
Hassel was of Dunstable, a grandson of Joseph and Ann 
Hassel, who were killed by the Indians at Dunstable in 
September, 1691. His uncle, Richard Hassel, had also 
been taken prisoner by the Indians. Under such circum- 
stances it is not surprising that Hassel should not care to 
fall into the hands of the Indians, So, in the earliest of 
the fight, seeing Captain Lovewell fall by his side, the com- 
pany surrounded by the Indians, and becoming separated 



lovewell's men 71 

from his companions in the retreat to the pond, he made 
the best of his way to the fort, and by his imperfect and 
exaggerated intelligence so wrought upon the fears of the 
soldiers left in charge of the same that they at once deter- 
mined upon a retreat. This probably was an act of pru- 
dence under the circumstances, although, as it turned out, 
it was very unfortunate. 

"According to Hassel's account the entire command 
of Lovewell had been cut off and the Indians in overwhelm- 
ing numbers were in full pursuit. The fort was a mere 
temporary affair, with no provisions, forty miles from any 
white inhabitant, no prospect of relief in case of attack or 
siege, and the little garrison, including Hassel, Kidder the 
sick man, and the physician, amounted to but eleven per- 
sons all told. Under such circumstances retreat was the 
only alternative. At first some little blame was attached 
to Hassel, but people soon began to think that he should 
be excused, and only two years after, when the grant of 
Suncook was made to those who were in this expedition 
under Lovewell, Hassel was one of the grantees, without 
any exceptions being taken on account of his conduct in, 
or subsequent to the battle. 

" The men who were left in the fort with Kidder were 
Nathaniel Woods of Dunstable, Sergeant ; Dr. William 
Ayer of Haverhill ; John Goffe of Londonderry, brother- 
in-law of Kidder ; John Gilson of Groton ; Isaac Whitney 
and Zachariah Whitney of Concord; Zebediah Austin of 
Haverhill ; and Edward Spooney and Ebenezer Halburt of 
Dunstable. The party probably arrived at Dunstable on 
the 11th, of May, 1725. 

" Upon hearing of this disastrous news, Governor 
Dummer forthwith dispatched a company under Col. El- 
eazer Tyng, of Dunstable, to search for the enemy and to 
find and bury the slain. Colonel Tyng marched with his 
company on the 17th of May, and encamped at Namos- 
keag, now Manchester, the first night. The next day being 
rainy they continued at their encampment." 



72 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Colonel Tyng having taken all the effective men from 
Dunstable, leaving the settlers in an exposed situation, 
wrote to Governor Dummer the following letter, informing 
him of their condition, and asking protection for them : 

May it please your Honor: 

This day I marched from Amoskeag, having 55 of my own men, and 
32 of Capt. Whites (?) 

The men are well and proceed with a great deal of life and courage. 
Yesterday I was forced to lie still by reason of the rain. I would 
humbly offer something to your Honor in the hehalf of our people who 
are left very destitute and naked, that you would be pleased to consider 
their circumstances and order what you shall think proper for their de- 
fense till we return. 

I am your Honors Most Ob't Servant, 

ELEAZER TYNG. 
Amoskeag, May 19, 1725. 

Governor Dummer seems to have anticipated Colonel 
Tyng's request, as he had already issued the following 
order : 

To Col. Flagg. 

Sir, These are to empower and direct you forthwith to detatch or 
impress out of the Reg't whereof you are Lieut. Coll., a sergeant and 
twelve effective able bodied men, well armed for his Majesties services, 
for the security and Reinforcement of Dunstable, until the return of Col. 
Tyng and his company. 

They must be posted at the Garrisons of Joseph Bloghead, Nath'l 
Hill, John Taylour, and John Lovewell, and three Centinels in each Gar- 
rison, and the sergeant in that of the four that is nearest to the centre. 
The sergeant must be very careful to keep the men well upon their duty, 
so as to be a good Guard and protection to the People, and you must 
give him directions in writing accordingly. Let this matter be effected 
with all possible dispatch. 

WILLIAM DUMMER. 
Boston, May 19, 1725. 



11 Col. Tyng and his party went to the place of action 
where they found and buried the following men, viz. : Capt. 
John Lovewell, Ensign Jonathan Woods, Ensign John 



lovewell's men 73 

Harwood and Robert Usher of Dunstable; Jacob Fullam 
of Weston ; Jacob Farrar and Josiah Davis of Concord ; 
Thomas Woods, David Woods and John Jefts of Groton ; 
Ichabod Johnson of Woburn ; Jonathan Kittredge of Bil- 
lerica. 

" Col. Tyng found where the Indians had buried three 
of their own men, which were dug up, and one of them was 
known to be the bold Paugus, who had been a great scourge 
to Dunstable." 

Paugus was a frequent visitor at Hill's garrison before 
Lovewell's War, and was always treated kindly by Mrs. 
Ann Hills, who often fed him when hungry. These kind 
acts seemed to have been reciprocated by him, and he is 
said to have always treated her with respect — sometimes 
furnishing her with a delicious piece of bear meat, or doing 
some other kindly act. 

These traditions came down through the writer's 
grandmother, Mrs. Sarah Cummings, whose mother, Sarah 
(Hills) (Severance) Hale, daughter of Nathaniel and Ann 
(Worm) Hills was born in the Hills garrison October 2, 
1731, only six years after the memorable campaign of Cap- 
tain Lovewell and his men. 



CHAPTER VI 

First Settlers of Hudson 

The first and only grant of land within the present 
precinct of this town, made prior to the incorporation of 
Dunstable, which included Hudson, as far as I have been 
able to learn, was five hundred acres laid out to Joseph 
Hills, of Maiden, Mass., and surveyed by Jonathan Dan- 
forth in 1661. 

This survey was not satisfactory to the court by reason 
of its being "in three places and so much length on the 
river." 

This grant was made, as stated by Mr. Hills in his re- 
quest for a second survey, "on a double consideration, for 
£33 6s 8d laid down in England, and for services to the 
country." A second survey was ordered by the General 
Court of Massachusetts, and the following return made : 

According to the order of the General Court the 11th day of the 4th 
month, 1662, There is added to the farm of Mr. Joseph Hills, of Maiden, 
One Hundred Acres of land joining to the former Parcel, Backward from 
the River; thence the Butting and Bounding of the farm are as follows: 

Laid out to Mr. Joseph Hills, of Maiden, 500 acres of Land in the 
Wilderness, On the Easterly side of the Merrimack River. 

One Parcel of the same containing 450 Acres, Joineth to said River; 
Beginning at Wattiannack Right Over Against the Island which Lyeth 
at the mouth of Nashuay River, Running up Merrimack 450 poles by the 
River; thence running half a point Northard of the East 148 Poles, cut- 
ting Across a small Brook which Bounds it on the North, near Merri- 
mack ; thence Running South and by East 406 Poles unto a Pine Tree 
marked H; from thence the closing line to the Merrimack is 106 Poles, 
all of which is sufficiently Bounded by Marked Trees, the form of which 
Does Better appear by a Plot Taken of the same. 

Also one other Parcel of the same, about 50 Acres of Meadow, Lyeth 
South East of the former Parcel, about 2 Miles Distant from it, Lying 
under the North East end of a great hill called Discovery hill. Also 
Bounded by other great hills on the North West and North East; a 
Brook running through the Same. 

74 



FIRST SETTLERS OF HUDSON 75 

Also there is Another Meadow added unto this Parcel. This was 
Laid out By 

JONATHAN DANFORTH, 

Surveyor. 

The first tract of this land as described, containing 
four hundred and fifty acres, commenced at the river about 
twenty-five or thirty rods south of the house of Kimball 
Webster, and about sixty rods above Taylor's Falls bridge, 
and extended to the river to the small brook that crosses 
the road a little south of the house of Pearl T. Thomas, 
and included the most fertile intervale lands in town. 

The second tract of fifty acres was a part of the large 
meadow still known as "Hills' Meadow." The fifty acres 
of the meadow set off to Mr. Hills was the north and west 
part of the same. The great hill called " Discovery Hill" 
is now designated " Burns' Hill." The last tract, which 
was not described by Mr. Danforth, was on the brook that 
enters Otternick Pond at the east end, formerly called 
Hale's Brook, but the exact boundary is unknown. 

This Joseph Hills was born in the parish of Great 
Burstead, Billericay, Essex, England, where he was bap- 
tised in March, 1602. Not later than March, 1632, the 
family moved to Maldon, also of Essex. In 1638 he came 
to this country in the ship "Susan and Ellen," which ar- 
rived in Boston July 17th of that year. He first located in 
Charlestown. He soon became active in public affairs ; 
was selectman of the town in 1644, and in 1646 represent- 
ed it in the General Court. Re-elected in 1647, he was 
chosen Speaker of its House of Deputies. 

That part of Charlestown north of the Mystic River, 
where he resided, was later set off as a separate township 
and was doubtless named by him Maiden, for his last dwel- 
ling place in Old England. 

He was a lawyer, a leader of the militia, and held many 
important offices while a resident of Maiden. Later he 
removed to Newbury. 



76 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

In 1645, Joseph Hills was the first person named on a 
committee "to set out lots to the settlers of Nashaway 
plantacon." 

In 1650 he was second of a committee, of which the 
governor was chairman, appointed to draw up instruments 
for Massachusetts delegates to a gathering where "the 
commissioners of all the colonies shall meete." He was a 
member of numerous other committees of equal or greater 
importance. 

His greatest public service was that of a leading mem- 
ber of the committee which in 1648 reported to the General 
Court the first codification of the laws of the colony. Mr. 
D. P. Cory, one of his descendants, in a history of Maiden 
published in 1899, says: "He was the actual compiler of 
the laws, that he prepared the copy for the press and sup- 
ervised their printing." The colony recognized the great 
value of his services by money payments, and also by the 
grant of lands already described, and the remission of his 
taxes in his old age. 

Rose Clark, the first wife of Joseph Hills, died at Mai- 
den, March 24, 1650, and he married June 24, 1651, Hannah 
(Smith), widow of Edward Mellows, of Charlestown, who 
died about 1655. In January, 1656, he married Helen, or 
Elline, or Eleanor, daughter of Hugh Atkinson, of Kendall, 
Westmoreland, England, who died between the dates of 
January 8, 1661, and November 10, 1662. Following the 
example of Governor Bellingham, who married himself in 
1641, Joseph Hills, a magistrate "for the trial of small 
causes," performed the ceremony that made Miss Atkin- 
son his wife, in January, 1656, but he did not escape cen- 
sure, as witness the following: 

The records of the court for Middlesex County show 
that, April 1, 1656, "Mr. Joseph Hills of Mauldon being 
presented by the Grand Jury for marrying of himself, con- 
trary to the law of this Collony page 38 in ye old Booke. 
Hee freely acknowledged his offense therein, and his mis- 
understanding the ground whereon he went which he now 



FIRST SETTLERS OF HUDSON 77 

confesseth to be unwarrantable, And was admonished by 
the Court." 

March 8, 1665, he married at Newbury, Ann, the widow 
of Henry Lunt, of that town, and until his death made 
her dwelling his home. He was totally blind the last four 
years of his life, which ended February 5, 1688. 

The children of Joseph and Rose (Clark) Hills : Mary, 
baptised G. Burstead, Eng., November 13, 1625 ; died at 
Maiden, Mass., November 25, 1674. Elizabeth, baptised 
G. Burstead, October 21, 1627 ; died at Maiden. Joseph, 
baptised G. Burstead, August 2, 1629; died at Maiden, 
April 19, 1674. James, baptised G. Burstead, March 6, 
1631 ; probably died young. John, baptised Maiden, March 
21, 1632; died at Maiden, June 28, 1652. Rebecca, bap- 
tised at Maiden, April 20, 1634; died at Maiden, June 6, 
1674. Steven, baptised at Maiden, May 1, 1636 ; died at 
Maiden before 1638. Sarah, baptised at Maiden, August 
14, 1637 ; died at Maiden, August 14, 1637. Gershom, 
born at Charlestown, Mass., July 27, 1639 ; died at Maiden, 
between 1710 and 1721. Mehitable, born at Maiden, Jan- 
uary 1, 1641 ; died at Maiden, July, 1653. 

The children of Joseph and Hannah (Smith-Mellows) 
Hills : Samuel, born at Maiden, July, 1652 ; died at New- 
bury, Mass., August 18, 1732. Nathaniel, born at Maiden, 
December 19, 1653; died in Maiden in 1664. Hannah, 
born at Maiden; date of death unknown. 

The children of Helen (Atkinson) Hills: Deborah, 
born at Maiden, March — , 1657; died at Maiden, October 
— , 1662. Abagail, born at Maiden, October 6, 1658; died 
at Maiden, October 9, 1662. 

Samuel Hills, son of Joseph and his second wife, Han- 
nah Smith, born in Maiden, in July, 1652, was sergeant in 
the Indian war with King Philip, and was at the Battle of 
Bloody Brook, September 18, and of Narragansett, Decem- 
ber 19, 1675. He married at Newbury, May 20, 1679, Abi- 
gail Wheeler, daughter of David and Sarah (Wise) Wheeler 
of Newbury. 



78 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

The children of Samuel and Abigail (Wheeler) Hills: 
Samuel, born in Newbury, February 16, 1680; died in 
Rehoboth, Mass., July 27, 1732. Joseph, born in Newbury, 
July 21, 1681; died in Newbury, November 6, 1745. Na- 
thaniel, born in Newbury, February 9, 1683; died at Not- 
tingham West (Hudson), N. H., April 12, 1748. Benja- 
min, born in Newbury, October 16, 1684; died, Chester, N. 
H., November 3, 1762. Abigail, born in Newbury, Sep- 
tember 2, 1686; died in Newbury, August 11, 1688. Hen- 
ry, born in Newbury, April 23, 1688; died in Nottingham 
West, N. H., August 20, 1757. William, born in Newbury, 
October 8, 1689; died in Newbury before January 20, 1724. 
Josiah, born in Newbury, July 27, 1691; died in Newbury, 
April 26, 1724. John, born in Newbury, September 20, 
1693; died after 1734. Abigail, born in Newbury, June 
27, 1695. James and Hannah, twins, born in Newbury, 
February 25, 1697; died in Nottingham West after 1769. 
Daniel, born in Newbury, December 8, 1700; died in colo- 
nial service October 28, 1756. Smith, born at Newbury, 
April 10, 1706; died in Leominster, Mass., August 23, 
1786. 

By the lengthy and explicit will of Joseph Hills, dated 
September 14, 1687, less than five months previous to his 
death, he disposed of his "Farm" in Dunstable in the fol- 
lowing manner: 

To his daughter Hannah, the wife of Abiel Long, he 
gave ninety acres of upland at the south end and ten acres 
of meadow. 

To his son-in-law, John Waite, who married his eldest 
daughter Mary, who died November 25, 1674, he gave forty- 
five acres of upland, next to that he gave his daughter 
Hannah, and five acres of meadow, with the little island at 
the mouth of Nashua River, and his six-acre piece of 
meadow southeast of Otternick Pond. 

To his grandchildren, Hannah and Elizabeth Blanch- 
ard, children of his daughter, Elizabeth (Hills) Blanchard, 
he gave forty-five acres of upland and five acres of meadow 
ground next to that he gave John Waite. 



FIRST SETTLERS OF HUDSON 79 

To his son Gershom he gave a like quantity of upland 
and meadow, joining the land of said Blanchards. 

To Hannah Vinton and Samuel Green, children of his 
daughter Rebecca, who married Capt. Thomas Green, he 
gave forty-five acres of upland and five acres of meadow 
apiece next to that he gave his son Gershom. 

To his granddaughter Elizabeth, daughter of Gershom, 
he gave forty-six acres of upland and five acres of meadow 
next to that he gave his grandchildren Vinton and Green. 

All of the remainder of his "Farm " in Dunstable, both 
upland and meadow, he gave to his son Samuel. This 
tract of land lying on the river according to the measure- 
ment of the noted surveyor, Jonathan Danforth, contained 
four hundred and fifty acres. 

The number of acres of this land devised, according to 
his will, to his children and grandchildren by Joseph Hills, 
with the exception of that portion given his son Samuel, 
contained three hundred and sixty-one acres. Provided the 
measurements were made correctly, the amount devised to 
Samuel at the north end of the "farm" was eighty-nine 
acres, besides ten acres of meadow. The land was proba- 
bly not divided by actual survey to correspond with the 
provisions of the will until many years later. 

Three of the sons of Samuel Hills, according to tradi- 
tion, were the first settlers in what is now the town of 
Hudson. Their names were Nathaniel, Henry and James. 

Samuel Hills, by his will, which was dated August 5, 
1732, only thirteen days previous to his decease, gave his 
property to his wife and seven of his sons who survived 
him. 

In that instrument his sons, Henry and James, are not 
mentioned, which omission is explained by two deeds dated 
August 22, 1721. 

In one of these where Henry is the grantee his father 
recites: "The natural love and affection which I have and 
do bear unto my well beloved son Henry Hills * * * * 
and in full of his portion of my estate," as the considera- 



80 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

tion for the conveyance to him of "one-half part of all * * 
* * lands and meadow * * * in the town of Dunstable, in 
the county of Middlesex * * * * on the easterly side of 
the Merrimack River * * * which land and meadow was 
granted to my honored father, Mr. Joseph Hills, late of 
Newbury, deceased, and conveyed to me by the late will 
and testament of the said Joseph Hills." 

For the same consideration he gave to his "well-beloved 
son James Hills" the other half of the same lands. This 
James Hills, the younger of the three brothers, on the 11th 
of January, 1723, a few days subsequent to his marriage, 
reciting in his deed that he was a resident of the new set- 
tlement, sold the land he had received from his father Sam- 
uel, then in Dunstable, describing it as containing sixty 
acres, to Samuel Whiting, of Dunstable, one of Captain 
Lovewell's famous war-party, and who was probably killed 
at Pequaket, May 9, 1725, a little over two years after this 
purchase. 

The tract of land sold to Samuel Whiting was the 
southerly part of the Samuel Hills land, and was later the 
northerly portion of the Pierce farm. 

The Hills brothers, Nathaniel, Henry and James, erect- 
ed a garrison and settled on the land willed to their father 
Samuel, and conveyed by deeds to the two last named, 
Henry and James. The exact date of the building of this 
garrison is not known. Mr. Fox, in his History of the Old 
Township of Dunstable, page 216, says: "Hudson was 
not settled until after 1710, although several tracts of land 
within its bounds were granted before 1660." 

If these brothers did not commence the settlement 
here until after the land was conveyed to the two younger 
ones by their father Samuel, August 22, 1721, certainly 
tradition is in error, and they could not be credited with 
being the first settlers in what is now Hudson. 

Nathaniel Hills, the eldest of the three brothers, born 
in Newbury, Mass., February 9, 1683, married (published) 
in Newbury, October 24, 1709, Ann Worm. Their chil- 



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2 

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FIRST SETTLERS OF HUDSON 81 

dren were: Enoch, born March 16, 1711. Anna, born 
May 5, 1712. Mary, born September 23, 1713. Martha, 
born January 6, 1715. Nathaniel, born April 28, 1716. 
Thaddeus, born September 20, 1718; died in Newbury, 
October 12, 1718. Abner, born ; died young. Abra- 
ham, born ; died young. Samuel, born September 

2, 1725. Oliver, born November 18, 1727. Sarah, born 
October 7, 1731. 

All but the last three of these children were born in 
Newbury, Mass., and these in Dunstable, N. H. 

Nathaniel Hills, Sr., died in Nottingham West, now 
Hudson, April 12, 1748. His wife Ann died at the same 
place in 1786, said to have been aged 102 years. 

Henry Hills, the second of the three brothers in point of 
age, born in Newbury, Mass., April 23, 1688, married, Haver- 
hill, Essex Co., Mass., September 3, 1715, Hannah, daughter 
of Henry and Berthia (Emery) Bodwell, born in Methuen, 

Mass., September — , 1696. He married 2d, Abigail ; 

3d, in Newbury, November 11, 1736, Dorcas Thurston. 

The children of Henry and Hannah (Bodwell) Hills: 
Ezekiel, born in Newbury, Mass., April 11, 1718. Henry, 
born in Newbury, October 22, 1719. 

The children of Henry and Abigail Hills were: Eliza- 
beth, born in Dunstable, now Hudson, N. H., April 17, 
1726.(?) (Dunstable Records.) Ebenezer, born in Dunsta- 
ble, February 20, 1727; Jonathan, born in Dunstable, Feb- 
ruary 15, 1729. 

Child of Henry and Dorcas (Thurston) Hills: Benja- 
min, born in Litchfield, N. H., in that part now Hudson, 
December 10, 1740. There may have been other children 
of this couple. 

Henry Hills died August 20, 1757, aged 69 years. 

James Hills, the youngest of these three brothers, and 
the twin of Hannah, was born in Newbury, Mass., Febru- 
ary 25, 1697. He came here and lived in the garrison be- 
fore his marriage to Abigail, daughter of Daniel and Es- 
ther Merrill, December 26, 1723, and then returned to 
Newbury. 



82 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Children of James and Abigail (Merrill) Hills: Abi- 
gail, born September 5, 1725 ; died October 5, 1725. Jere- 
miah, born March 1, 1727. James, born August 10, 1728; 
died September 1, 1729. William, born May 23, 1730; died 
September 25, 1734. Hannah, born September 25, 1731 ; 
all of Newbury. Sarah, born July 2, 1735; married Joseph 
Winn, Jr.; died August 24, 1753. Edna, born August 3, 
1736; died September 1, 1753. Elijah, born March 15, 1738. 

James Hills returned from Newbury as early as 1737, 
and settled on a farm of about one hundred acres, which he 
bought of his brother Nathaniel, and which was a part of 
the nine hundred acres Nathaniel had bought of Jonathan 
Tyng. This tract of land was located between the north 
end of Joseph Hills' "farm" and the "Brenton Farm," 
which bounded it on the north, and extended east from the 
river more than two miles. This included all that was 
later known as "Hills Row." The probable reason why 
Samuel Hills gave all of his land in Dunstable to his two 
sons, Henry and James, and no part to Nathaniel, was that 
the latter had already bought the Tyhg land. 

The Hills garrison stood about twenty-five rods east 
of the Litchfield road, on the farm now owned by J. H. 
LeGallee. A granite boulder, with the following inscrip- 
tion, marks the location: 

SfTE of the Hills Garrison. 

The first settlement of Hudson, about 1710. 

Erected by Kimball Webster, 1901. 

Nathaniel Hills died April 12, 1748, aged 65. 

Henry Hills died August 20, 1757, aged 69. 

It is possible and perhaps probable that Hills garrison 
was erected and the settlement commenced several years 
previous to the removal of the families of Nathaniel and 
Henry Hills, permanently, from Newbury. 

Captain John Lovewell, with his company of forty- 
six brave soldiers spent the first night after starting upon 
their march to Pequawket at Hills garrison, where they 
were fed by Mrs. Ann Hills with rations she had prepared 



FIRST SETTLERS OF HUDSON 83 

for them — cooked in a large iron kettle. She was a very 
brave woman, and once saved the garrison from capture by 
a party of Indians by strategem. 

Three other garrisons were built in what was later the 
town of Nottingham, two of which, the Joseph Blodgett, 
and the John Taylor garrisons, were all built in what is 
now Hudson, and the Fletcher garrison was a short dis- 
tance south of the state line, in what is nowTyngsborough, 
Mass. These garrisons were all built as a protection 
against the Indians, either before, or during the time of 
Lovewell's war, and it is the more probable that they were 
all built previous to that time. The Joseph Blodgett garri- 
son was located about two and one-half miles below the 
mouth of the Nashua River, nearly half way between the 
present river road and the Merrimack, on the farm now 
owned by Philip J. Connell, which is a part of the original 
Joseph Blodgett farm. 

Joseph Blodgett was one of the first settlers on the 
east side of the river, in what was then Dunstable. 

A granite boulder with a bronze tablet marks the site 
of the garrison. The inscription on the tablet is as follows : 
Site of Blodgett Garrison — 
Joseph and Dorothy Blodgett. 

Their eldest son, Joseph, born here February 9, 1718, being the first 
white child born in this town. 

Kimball Webster, 
1904. 

Thomas Blodgett, born 1605, the emigrant ancestor of 
the Blodgett Family of New England, sailed from London 
in the "Increase," April 18, 1635. The family consisted 
of "Thomas Blodgett, glover, aged 30 ; his wife, Susan, aged 
37; a son, Daniel, aged 4; and a son, Samuel, aged 1 1-2 
years." He settled in Cambridge, Mass., and was one of 
the original members of Rev. Thomas Shepard's company 
which founded the first church in Cambridge. He was 
made a freeman in 1636, and received a grant of land. He 
died in 1642, aged about 37. His will is dated August 10, 



84 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

1641, and was probated 1643. His widow, Susan, married 
second time, February 15, 1643-4, James Thompson of 
Woburn. 

Samuel Blodgett, son of Thomas and Susan, born in 
England, settled in Woburn. 

Daniel Blodgett, son of Thomas, born in England, mar- 
ried September 15, 1653, Mary Butterfield, daughter of 
Benjamin and Ann Butterfield of Woburn, and Chelmsford, 
Mass. He removed from Cambridge to Chelmsford, and 
there his children were born. His wife, the mother of 
seven children, died September 5, 1666; he married, second, 
March 10, 1669, Sarah Underwood, who was the mother of 
two sons. He died January 28, 1672. 

Thomas Blodgett, son of Daniel 2 , born in Chelmsford, 
June 25, 1654, lived in Chelmsford. He married June 29, 
1682, Mary Parkhurst, daughter of Joseph Parkhurst; she 
died September 9, 1694. He married, second, July 8, 1696, 
Mary Druse of Groton, Mass. 

Joseph Blodgett, son of Thomas 8 , and Mary (Park- 
hurst) Blodgett, born in Chelmsford, October 10, 1689; 
married Dorothy Perham, daughther of Joseph Perham, 
born July 9, 1696. This is the same Joseph Blodgett that 
built the garrison, sometime previous to the beginning of 
Lovewell's war, and where his eldest son was born, prob- 
ably February 9, 1718, athough the records place it one 
year later. This was the first white child born in this 
town. 

The old Dunstable records give the births of children of 
Joseph and Dorothy Blodgett as follows: Joseph Blodgett, 
born February 9, 1719; Ebenezer, born January 3, 1720; 
Jeremiah, born July 20, 1721; Dorothy, born Febuary 18, 
1723-4; Rebecca, born February 3,1728; Jonathan, born 
December 5, 1730. 

We also find recorded on the Nottingham records an- 
other birth, James, born February 17, 1734. They prob- 
ably had another daughter, Abigail, who married in this 
town May 27, 1744, Samuel Greeley, son of Samuel and 



FmST SETTLERS OF HUDSON 85 

Rachel Greeley, born May 11, 1721. They resided in this 
town until about 1767 when they removed to Wilton. After 
his death his widow, Abigail, returned here, where she 
•died March 18, 1818, in the 95th year of her age. (Inscrip- 
tion, Blodgett Cemetery.) 

The date of the birth of Joseph Blodgett, given as 
February 9, 1719, on the Dunstable records, is believed to 
be an error of one year. The inscription on his head stone 
in the Blodgett Cemetery gives the date of his death on 
August 16, 1801, in the 84th year of his age, which would 
place his birth as in the year 1718. 

Again, the record places the birth of his brother, Eb- 
enezer, January 3, 1720, which would leave less than eleven 
months between the two births, which might be possible 
but not very probable. 

The date upon the tablet at the site of the Blodgett 
garrison, for the birth of Joseph, is February 9, 1718, which 
is believed to be correct. 

In my experience with the ancient town records I have 
observed very many similar errors of one or more years in 
the dates of births and deaths, in cases where the age is 
given at date of death.* 

Dorothy Blodgett, born February 18, 1723-4; married 
first — Thompson, second Onesipherous Marsh of this town. 
They resided here until about 1755, when they removed to 
Hollis, and later to Plymouth, N. H. Rebecca Blodgett, 
born February 3, 1728, married Samuel Merrill, Jr., son of 
Samuel and Susanna Merrill of this town. He died Sep- 
tember 16, 1758, and is said to have been killed in the 
French and Indian war. 

The Joseph Blodgett farm, upon which the garrison 
was built, extended from the Merrimack River to Hills 
meadow, a distance of more than one and a half miles, and 
contained about 200 acres, including the farm now owned 
by Hannah E. Connell, the summer home of Herman A. 



Kimball Webster. 



86 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Morse, a part of the farm of the heirs of Luther Pollardy 
and lands of Austin J. and Vinnie Blodgett and Susan C 
Greeley, and possibly others. 

The descendants of Joseph and Dorothy Blodgett be- 
came very numerous, among which have been, and at pres- 
ent (1912) are, many distinguished men of New Hampshire, 
Massachusetts, and other states. 

He died December 3, 1761. His wife, Dorothy, died 
March 6, 1778. They were buried in the Blodgett ceme- 
tery, where the inscriptions upon their head stones may be 
easily read. 

Tradition says that he was a small, wiry man, and that 
he moved up the river to his farm in a canoe. 

The John Taylor garrison was located upon that part 
of the Joseph Hills farm, containing forty-five acres, that 
was willed to Gershom Hills by his father, Joseph, which 
farm is now owned and occupied by Charles W. Spalding, 
and was situated about equal distance between the Derry 
road and the Litchfield road as they at present exist. 

The exact location where it stood is still known, and 
has been pointed out to the writer. Some pieces of timber 
that entered into the construction of this garrison are still 
preserved by Mr. Spalding. 

Very little is know of this John Taylor. He was as- 
sessed here from the date of the incorporation of Notting- 
ham in 1733 to 1741, inclusive. He probably removed from 
this town about 1742, or possibly he may have died about 
that time, as we find no further reference in relation to 
him upon the records. The Dunstable records give births 
of children of John and Sarah Taylor, Elizabeth Taylor, 
born December 10, 1710, and that a son was born to them 
January 16, 1726; the first of which probably took place 
while he resided on the west side of the Merrimack, before 
he built the garrison. 

The falls in the Merrimack, about one mile below his 
farm, now covered by flowage from the dam at Lowell, 
called Taylor's Falls, probably derived the name from this 
John Taylor. 



FIRST SETTLERS OF HUDSON 87 

The Fletcher garrison, also in Nottingham, was situ- 
ated a little south of the line as established in 3741, be- 
tween the provinces of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. 
It was located near the River road, a short distance south 
of the state line, now Tyngsborough, Mass., and was occu- 
pied by Capt. Robert Fletcher. 

Thus it will be seen that the Hills garrison was situ- 
ated very near the north line of Nottingham as it was in- 
corporated in 1733. John Taylor's garrison was situated 
about one-half a mile south of the Hills garrison, and the 
Joseph Blodgett garrison was located about three miles 
southerly from the Taylor garrison, and the Fletcher gar- 
rison was situated nearly three miles southerly from the 
Blodgett garrison, no one of which was more than one-half 
a mile from the Merrimack. 

Probably during Lovewell's war there may have been 
a few other families residing on the east side of the river, 
who depended upon the garrison houses for protection in 
fcase of trouble with the Indians. 



CHAPTER VII 

Grants and Counter Grants 

The early histories of all the towns in lower New 
Hampshire and northern Massachusetts are largely taken 
up with the settlements of boundary disputes, arising mainly 
in the beginning from a misconception regarding the true 
course of the Merrimack River, which was supposed to be 
from the west, no one dreaming of the abrupt bend made 
by the river three miles below the present line between 
the states. The records of the Massachusetts Bay Com- 
pany, after describing the country to the south of the 
Merrimack, says: 

And also all singular the lands and preditaments whatsoever which 
lie, & be within the space of three English miles to the Northward of said 
river Called " Monomack," alias " Merrymack," or to the northward of 
any and every part thereof. 

Owing to this misconception dual grants were made 
by the rival provinces which made much trouble and cre- 
ated in some instances bitter feelings on the part of the 
colonists, many of whom were in no way responsible or to 
blame for the situation. Though escaping, in a measure, 
the rancor arising among the inhabitants of the grants up 
the river, the settlement of Hudson, or Nottingham, as it 
was first known, was influenced by this state of affairs. 

The first grant affecting the condition of Hudson, how- 
ever, was free from this influence. This was the grant of 
the old township of Dunstable by the General Court of 
Massachusetts Bay Colony, October 16, 1673, which em- 
braced a very large tract of land, and included within its 
bounds the following towns and parts of towns: Hudson, 
Nashua, Hollis, portions of Amherst, Milford, Merrimack, 
Litchfield, Londonderry, Pelham and Brookline, in New 



GRANTS AND COUNTER GRANTS 89 

Hampshire; Dunstable, Tyngsborough, and portions of 
Pepperell and Townsend, in Massachusetts. 

The first inroad made upon this extensive territory 
was attempted when Governor Shute of New Hampshire 
granted to the Scotch-Irish colony the township of Lon- 
donderry, and which included a part of the present town of 
Hudson, and which was made to John Moore and one hun- 
dred and seventeen others upon June 21, 1722. 

These colonists were of a distinct type from any who 
had previously settled in New England. They were of 
Scottish descent, with a character founded during the 
stormy period of the early struggles of Scotland against 
the royal and ecclesiastical tyranny of England. Finally 
their situation becoming more and more unsatisfactory and 
hopeless, a considerable number of them emigrated to the 
northern counties of Ireland, which had been almost de- 
populated through the devastations of war. This was in 
1612, and these refugees soon learned that the same op- 
pression was to wreak its work upon them here. Thus, 
after a bitter conflict lasting over a hundred years in that 
country, their descendants began to look towards New 
England as their haven of refuge. One of their number, 
the Rev. William Boyd, came as an advance agent, and his 
account was so flattering that about seventy-five, under the 
leadership of Rev. James McGregor, landed in Boston, 
August 14, 1718. 

Flattering prospects were held out to induce them to 
settle on the Maine coast, and hither about twenty of them 
removed soon after their arrival. The balance remained 
in Boston during the fall and winter. In the meantime 
they had been seen by Capt. John Goffe and John Moore, 
who encouraged them to settle in what was known as "The 
Nuffield Country," from the great abundance of chestnuts, 
walnuts and butternuts growing there. These two men 
had begun negotiations for land there, and the first of 
April sixteen families went to Haverhill, Mass., reaching 
that town the second day of the month. From thence 



90 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

some of the men, under the guidance of Captain Goffe, 
pushed forward into the new country. They were so well 
pleased with the prospect, that they immediately began 
the construction of rude dwellings for themselves, and on 
April 11 they had removed their families hither, to begin 
housekeeping at once. 

The names of the male members of this hardy little 
band of pioneers were Rev. James McGregor, Alexander 
McGregor, Alexander Nichols, James Nichols, James Blair, 
Alexander Walker, Robert Boyes, Samuel Graves, Joseph 
Simonds, David Cargill, David Cargill, Jr., Archibald Clen- 
denin, James Nesmith, James Clark, Elias Keyes, John Bar- 
nett, James McKeen, James Gregg, James Morrison, John 
Morrison, Allen Anderson, Thomas Steele and Robert 
Weare. The seven last named had been among those who 
went to Casco the fall before, but had not been satisfied with 
the prospect there.* To this list of twenty-three should 
be added the name of John Goffe, who, though of English 
descent, linked his fortune with the others. I only wish I 
had the names of the brave and equally energetic women 
who accompanied their husbands into this wilderness. 

The following September a petition was sent to the 
Court of New Hampshire for the "power of government 
and town privileges." Anxious to secure a valid title to 
their possessions, in October, 1719, Mr. James McGregor 
and Samuel Graves were chosen to obtain a sale of the 
land from Col. John Wheelwright of Wells, Maine, a grand- 
son of Rev. John Wheelwright, who claimed to have pur- 
chased of the Indians a tract of land extending from the 
Pascataqua River to the Merrimack, and from the Massa- 
chusetts line thirty miles northward. This was the famous 
Wheelwright deed, which has caused so much discussion 
in regard to its being genuine or not, and upon which his- 



* From the fact that these people had come here from Ireland, where they and their an- 
cestors had lived for over a century, they were largely known as " Irish " among the early 
English settlers. Later they were termed " Scotch-Iriih," which name has clung to them, 
though opinions differ as to whether it is correct or not.— G. W. B. 



GRANTS AND COUNTER GRANTS 91 

torians are not yet agreed. It was purported to have been 
signed by Passaconnavvay, Sagamon of the Pennacooks; 
Runnawit, Chief of the Pawtuckets; Wahhangnowit, Chief 
of the Swampscots; and Rowls, Chief of the Newichewan- 
nocks, and dated May 17, 1629. 

The deed from John Wheelwright to the Londonderry 
colonists was dated October 20, 1719, and specified "Unto 
James McGregor, Samuel Graves, David Cargill, James 
McKeen, James Gregg, and one hundred more mentioned 
in a list, by virtue of a deed or grant made to my grand- 
father, a minister of the gospel, a tract of land not to ex- 
ceed tenn miles square, and bounded as follows," etc. 

There was some delay in getting the charter, but this 
was granted June 21, 1722, in the name of George the 
First, and signed by Samuel Shute, Governor of New 
Hampshire. It covered a tract of land about ten miles 
square, incorporated under the name of Londonderry, so 
called from the city in Ireland from whence many of them 
had come. 

The first comers to Londonderry settled along West- 
Running Brook, now Beaver Brook, and the energy with 
which they went to work is shown by the fact that within a 
year a two-story dwelling house was built for the minister; 
inside of two years a meeting house and four school houses 
were erected. In that space of time, too, they had con- 
structed mills, and begun the manufacture of linen, an im- 
portant product in that day. So they became the pioneer 
manufacturers in this country. In fact, before this time 
they had begun the manufacture of linen cloth in Boston, 
arousing the people to the importance of that industry, and 
inaugurating what was known as "the spinning craze," car- 
ried to such an extent that work was carried on at Boston 
Common, and the whirl of the wheel was heard from sunrise 
to sunset, while the folk went about proudly clad in gar- 
ments of their weaving. 

Mr. Parker, in his History of Londonderry, speaking 
of this industry, says: "To the hand-card, foot-wheel and 



92 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

the loom, the common implements of manufacture in al- 
most every family, was the town principally indebted for 
its early prosperity and wealth. Of such superior quality 
was the linen, the thread and the fabrics manufactured in 
Londonderry, that they commanded not only a more ready 
sale, but a higher price than those produced elsewhere." 

They raised their own flax, and also introduced the 
potato, which had been unknown in this country before. 
The complete lack of knowledge concerning this item of 
food is shown by the anecdote current at that time, and 
told at the expense of some of the good settlers in An- 
dover, Mass. A few potatoes left with a family for seed 
were planted according to directions, and like Mr. Finney's 
turnip, "they grew and they grew," but the raisers were at 
a loss what to do with them. Finally, as the little apples 
that succeeded the blossoms grew into sizable shape these 
were plucked and boiled, but the most ravenous could not 
eat them. Then some were baked, and still they proved 
anything but palatable. They were stewed and cooked in 
all the various ways the ingenious housewife could think 
of, and still they failed to be relished. So the little patch 
was left to the mercies of the weeds, and, while the potato 
might do well for a Scotch-Irishman, it was unsuitable to 
the English taste. The following spring the plow turned 
out some bouncing specimens which had escaped the win- 
ter frosts, and with a suspicion that the previous trial had 
been misplaced, these were cooked and eaten with great 
manifestations of delight. 

The south-western boundary of Londonderry, as de- 
scribed in its charter, reached an angle about northeast 
from Taylor's Falls bridge, and within two miles of the 
Merrimack River. From thence the western boundary 
line ran due north by the needle eleven and one-half miles. 
This plan included ten thousand acres of the township of 
Old Dunstable, which had been incorporated forty-nine 
years before by the Massachusetts Bay colony. Four thou- 
sand six hundred acres of this territory are within the pres- 



'GRANTS AND COUNTER GRANTS 93 

Wit limits of Hudson, so the inhabitants of our town had a 
personal interest in this grant to the Scotch-Irish. 

This tract became known as the " Londonderry Claim," 
and a bitter controversy arose between the English settlers 
and the Scotch-Irish, the former holding their title from 
the Massachusetts courts and the latter from New Hamp- 
shire. This civil war continued with increasing bitterness 
until the boundary line "was fixed between the provinces in 
May, 1741, when it was conceded that the charter of Lon- 
donderry held the •debatable territory. Before this an im- 
portant step had been taken relative to the jurisdiction 
over that territory now comprising the town of Hudson. 

In 1731 the inhabitants of t)unstable residing in that 
part of the township lying east of the Merrimack, peti- 
tioned the town of Dunstable to be set off as a separate 
township; and by a vote passed at the annual meeting of 
that town, March H, 1732, the petition was granted, to take 
effect "when the General Court shall judge them capable." 

Consent was obtained from the Assembly of Massa- 
chusetts, and the new township was incorporated by the 
General Court of Massachusetts under the name of Not- 
tingham, January 4, 1733, as follows: 

Charter of Nottingham, January 4, 1732-3. 

Whereas the inhabitants of the town of Dunstable, on the easterly 
side of the river Merrimack, labor under great difficulties on their atten- 
dance on public 'worship of God, and therefore have addressed this court 
that they may be set off a separate and distinct township, that they may 
be Vested with all powers and privileges of a town. 

Be it therefore enacted by his Excellency, the Governor, Council and 
Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the 
same; 

That all the lands on the easterly side of the river Merrimack, be- 
longing to the town of Dunstable, be and hereby are set off and consti- 
tuted a separate township by the name of Nottingham, and that the in- 
habitants of the said lands be, and hereby are, accordingly endowed and 
vested with all the powers, privileges, immunities and advantages which 
other towns of this Province by law have and enjoy. 

And the inhabitants of the said town of Nottingham are hereby en- 
joined and required, within the space of three years from the publication 



94 HISTORY OF HUDSON - 

of this Act, to procure and settle a learned Orthodox minister of goes 
conversation, and make provision for his comfortable and honorable sup- 
port. 

Passed January 4; Published January 6, 1732-3. 

By the terms of this charter the township of Notting- 
ham included "all the lands on the easterly side of the 
river Merrimack belonging to the town of Dunstable," and 
extended from the Dracut line on the south, up the Merri- 
mack, about seventeen miles, to near Reed's Ferry, and 
included the greater part of Litchfield, about one-third of 
Pelham, nearly all that part of Tyngsborough, Mass., on 
the east side of the Merrimack, and all the present town of 
Hudson, excepting the "Londonderry claim," the owner- 
ship of which was in dispute between the towns of Dun- 
stable and Londonderry. 

An order from the General Court of Massachusetts, 
dated April 4, 1733 — three months subsequent to the date 
of the charter — directed to "Mr. Robert Fletcher, one of 
the principal inhabitants of Nottingham," authorizing him 
"to assemble and convene the inhabitants of said Town to 
choose Town officers to stand until the annual meeting in 
March next." 

A warrant was accordingly issued by Mr. Fletcher as 
follows: 

The general court's order directed to me Being date April ye 4, to 
notify and warn a Town meeting in obedience to said order. I have noti- 
fied ye free Holders and other Inhabitants of ye town of Nottingham To 
meet at ye Hous of Insign John Snow, in Nottingham one Tuesday ye 
first day of May 1733, at ten of ye clock in ye forenoon to choose Town 
officers as ye Law directs. 

ROBERT FLETCHER. 

The inhabitants of Nottingham met and made "choys 
of Cpt. Robert Fletcher Moderator for this inst in s In ye 
year 1733 May ye first day, ye free Holders and other in- 
habitants at a general Town meeting at Insign John Snows 

"Henry Baldwin Town Clerk. Henry Baldwin first 
Selectman, Capt. Robert Fletcher ye Second Selectman, 
John Taylor ye Third Selectman, Joseph Snow ye Fourth 



GRANTS ANT) COUNTER GRANTS 



!*:■■ 



Selectman, John Butler ye Fifth Selectman. Joseph Ham- 
let Constable. Insign John Snow Town Treasurer. Na- 
thaniel Hills Tythingman. 

James Perham, 

Joseph Winn, 

Eleazer Cummings. 

Thomas Colburn, ) 

Samuel Butler. \ 

Edward Spalding, ) p. w Dri 

Jonathan Perham. ) 

Phineas Spalding, \ „ R 

John Hamlet. \ rt0§ Keves> 

Henry Baldwin, Town Clerk." 

The first tax-list for 1733 was made up of the following 



> Surveyors, 
Fence Viewers 



Captain Robert Fletcher, Ezekiel Fletcher, 



Daniel Fletcher, 
Jeremiah Colburn, 
Zaccheus Spalding, 
James Perham, 
Hugh Richardson, 
Ensign John Snow, 
Zaccheus Lovewell, 
Eleazer Cummings, 
Eleazer Cummings, Jr., 
Nathaniel Hills, 
Joseph Snow, 
Joseph Blodgett, 
John Taylor, 
Henry Hills, 
Benjamin Adams, 
Samuel Moores, 
Capt.Robert Richardson, 
Edward Lingfield, 
John Butler, 
Samuel Butler, 
Josiah Winn, 



Joseph Perham, 
Jonathan Perham, 
Deacon Joseph Perham, 
Captain Joseph Butterfield, 
Samuel Gould, 
Phineas Spalding, 
Thomas Pollard, 
William Cummings, 
Ebenezer Spalding, 
Ephraim Cummings, 
Thomas Colburn, 
Nathan Cross, 
Jabez Davis, 
Edward Spalding, 
Aquilla Underwood, 
Thomas Wartels, 
Ebenezer Wright, 

John 

John Butler, Jr., 
Joseph Hamblet, Jr, 
Henry Baldwin, 



96 HISTORV OF HUDSON* 

Thomas Cummings, Joseph Wright r 

James Walker, Joseph Hamblet r 

Jonas Proctor, John Hamblet, 

Joseph Winn, Benjamin Hassel, 

William Harwood, Samuel Murdough, 

Robert Walker. 

This tax-list contains fifty-five names, of which the 
first twelve, and also Phineas Spalding and Samuel Mur- 
dough, were all residents of that part of the town which by 
the settlement of the Province line in 1741 fell into Massa- 
chusetts, and later became a part of the town of Tyngs- 
borough. The eight next following the names of Henry 
Hills and Edward Spalding were residents in what is now 
Litchfield. Nine inhabited the east part of the town that 
was taken into Pelham as incorporated July 6, 1746. These 
tax-payers were: 

John Butl'er, John Butler, Jr., 

Samuel Butler* Joseph Hamblet, Jr.,. 

Josiah Winn, Joseph Hamblet, 

John Hamblet,. Henry Baldwin, 

Joseph Wright- 
Six of those assessed m 1733 we?e either transients or 
non-residents, as they were not assessed hetfe after that 
year. These names were: 

Thomas Cummings,. Robert Walker,. 

James Proctor, Benjamin Hassel,, 

Joseph Walker,, William Harwood. 

Thus it appears that the total number of tax-payers in 
1733, residents in that part of Nottingham that is now 
within the present limits of Hudson,, was bat eighteen. 
The names of those men were: 
Ensign John Snow, Zaccheus Lovewell, 

Thomas Pollard, Ebenezer Cummings, 

William Cummings, Eleazer Cummings, Jr., 

Ebenezer Spalding, Nathaniel Hills, 



GRANTS AND COUNTER GRANTS 97 

Ephraim Cummings, Joseph Snow, 

Joseph Winn, Thomas Colburn, 

Joseph Blodgett, Nathan Cross, 

John Taylor, Jabez Davis, 

Henry Hills, Edward Spalding. 

The most thickly settled part of the town included 
what was formerly the Joseph Hills grant already men- 
tioned, upon which ten of the eighteen families above enu- 
merated were residents. 



CHAPTER VIII 

Pioneer Families 

A brief sketch of these eighteen men, the pioneer set- 
tlers of Hudson, the ancestors of many of its present resi- 
dents, showing so far as is known the places where they 
settled, may not be uninteresting in this connection. 

First, the settlers of "Hills Farm," beginning with 
Eleazer Cummings. 

Isaac Cummings, the emigrant, was a resident of 
Watertown before 1636, where he was the owner of land. 
Later he became a permanent resident of Topsfield, where 
he was deacon of the church for many years." He died in 
May, 1667, aged 66 years. His children were: John 2 , born 

1630; Isaac 2 , born 1633; Elizabeth 2 , born ; married 

John Jewett of Rowley, April 2, 1661; Ann 2 , born ; 

married John Pease of Salem, October 8, 1669; John Cum- 
mings 2 , (Isaac 1 ), born 1630; married Sarah, daughter of 
Thomas and Alice (French) Howlet, of Ipswich, Mass. 
He received by his father's will the homestead, con- 
sisting of 40 acres, with houses, barns, orchards and fences, 
and in 1680 sold the same to Edward Kneeland. About 
1658 he removed to Boxford, Mass. 

Both he and his wife were members of the church in 
Topsfield, December 7, 1685, when, they were dismissed 
"to the church to be shortly gathered at Dunstable." 
(Topsfield Church Records.) 

He removed with his family to Dunstable about 1680. 
He died December 1, 1700. Sarah, his wife, died Decem- 
ber 7, 1700. 

Children: — John 3 , born , 1657, in Boxford; Thom- 
as 3 , born October 6, 1658; Nathaniel 3 , born September 10, 
1659; Sarah 8 , born January 27, 1661; married Lieut. Sam- 
uel French, December 28, 1682; Abraham 8 , born ; 

98 



PIONEER FAMILIES 99 

* Isaac 8 , born ; died November 2, 1688; *Ebenezer 8 , 

born ; died November 2, 1688; fWilliam 8 , born August 

5, 1671; died March 30, 1672; fEleazer 8 , born August 5, 
1671; Benjamin 3 , born February 23, 1673; Samuel 3 , born 
December 28, 1677. 

John Cummings 3 , (John 2 , Isaac 1 ,) born in Boxford, 
1657; married September 13, 1680; Elisabeth Kinsley, 
born in Braintree, November 22, 1657. She was called 
"Goody" Cummings. They settled on the Nathan Cutler 
place, on the Lo.well road, about one mile north of the 
south line of Nashua, where "Goody" Cummings was killed 
by the Indians, July 3, 1706. He was also wounded, hav- 
ing an arm broken, but escaped to a swamp about one-half 
a mile south, where he remained in hiding until the next 
morning when he escaped to "Harwell's Block-house." 

Children: John 4 , born July 7, 1682; Samuel 4 , born 
October 6, 1684; Elizabeth 4 , born January 5, 1687; married 
Joseph French, son of Samuel and Sarah (Cummings) 
French, born March 10, 1687; Hannah 4 , born May 20, 1690 
in Groton; Ebenezer 4 , born in Woburn, September 17, 
1695; died September 5, 1724, killed by the Indians with 
seven others; Anna 4 , born September 14, 1798; Lydia 4 , 
born March 24, 1701; died April, 1701; William 4 , born 
April 24, 1702; settled in Hudson. 

Thomas Cummings 3 , (John 2 , Isaac 1 ), born in Boxford, 
October 6, 1658; married December 19, 1688, Priscilla, 
daughter of Samuel and Mercy (Swan) Warner, born Sep- 
tember 25, 1666. He died October 23, 1722, and was, 
buried in the ancient cemetery at South Nashua, where his 
head stone still remains. 

Children: Priscilla 4 , born October 1, 1689; died Sep- 
tember 13, 1728 ; Mary 4 , born April 25, 1692 ; married Lieut. 
Oliver Farwell, born 1691, who was killed by the Indians 
at Natticook, September 5, 1724, aged 33; Thomas 4 , born 



* Killed by the Indians and remained unburied until November 28. 
t Twins. 



100 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

October 24, 1694; died June 2, 1695; Sarah 4 , born Septem- 
ber 15, 1696; Ann 4 , born February 6, 1699; Thomas 4 , born 
April 10, 1701; Jonathan 4 , born July 3, 1703; settled in 
Merrimack, N. H. ; Ephraim 4 , born March 10, 1706, settled 
in Hudson; Samuel 4 , born April 12, 1708. 

Nathaniel Cummings 3 , (John 2 , Isaac 1 ,) born in Boxford 
September 10, 1659; married April 14, 1697, Abigail Park- 
hurst, of Chelmsford, and settled in Dunstable. His widow 
was living February 23, 1729, with her son John, who gave 
a bond for her support. 

Children: John 4 , born January 14,1698; Nathaniel 4 , 
born September 8, 1699; Eleazer 4 , born October 19, 1701; 
Joseph 4 , born May 26, 1704. 

Abraham Cummings 8 , (John 2 , Isaac 1 ,) born in Boxford, 
removed with his father to Dunstable about 1680. He 
married February 28, 1687, Sarah Wright, of Woburn, 
where the births of his children are recorded, with the ex- 
ception of Josiah's, which is recorded in Dunstable. 

Children: Abraham 4 , born October 7, 1690; Joseph 4 , 
born September 1, 1692; Sarah 4 , born February 10, 1694; 
Jacob 4 , born January 3, 1696; Josiah 4 , born July 12, 1698; 
Eleazer 4 , born April 9, 1704. 

Eleazer Cummings 4 , (Nathaniel 8 , John 2 , Isaac 1 ,) born 
in Dunstable, October 19, 1701, settled on the southerly 
end of the Joseph Hills farm which was willed to Hannah 
Vinton and Samuel Green, containing ninety acres. 

The deed dated August 1, 1728, was as follows: 

To all people unto whom this Deed of sale shall come, Benjamin 
Long, Hannah Rogers and Thomas Rogers, Jun., Husband of said Han- 
nah Rogers, all of ye town of Newbury, in ye County of Essex, in ye 
Province of ye Massachusetts Ray in New England, stndeth greeting. 

Know ye that for and in consideration of ye sum of two hundred and 
fifty Pounds money to us in hand paid, and by bond seemed to us before 
the signing and sealing hereof, Have given, granted, bargained, sold, and 
do by these presents fully, freely and absolutely give, giant, sell, alienate, 
confirm and make over unto Eleazer Cummings, Sen., in ye County of 
Middlesex in ye Province above named, A certain parcel of land lying in 
ye township of Dunstable, being ninety acres of upland and ten acres of 



PIONEER FAMILIES 101 

Meadow, being originally the land of Mr. Joseph Hills, late of Newbury, 
deceased, which land and meadow is at that end of said Hills farm lying 
next to Chelmsford, and was given to our honored mother, Hannah Long 
by ye last will and te*tament of her Honored father Joseph Hills. 

The said ten acres of meadow is bounded as followeth, Viz. South- 
westward by meadow about eighteen poles, Southeasterly by upland 
about fifty poles and about 11 poles by meadow, bounded northeasterly 
by meadow about 38 poles, bounded westerly by upland in crooked lines 
about fifty-two poles to a white oak tree marked by a rock, thence it is 
bounded by upland in a crooked line about 36 poles. The Southeast and 
Northeast corners are stakes, the South west and North west corners are 
rocks and stones layed upon them. 

To Have and to Hold all of the above mentioned ninety acres of up- 
land and ten acres of meadow together with all the privileges and apper- 
tenances thereon or in any ways thereunto appertaining, to him the said 
Eleazer Cummings his heirs Executors Administrators assigns forever, to 
his and their proper use, benefit or behoof forever. 

And we the said Benjamin Long, Hannah Rogers and Thomas Rog- 
ers, for ourselves our heirs executors administrators, do promise, covenant 
and grant to and with the above said Eleazer Cummuigs, his heiis Ex- 
ecutors Administrators and assigns, that before ye signing and sealing 
hereof, we are the true sole and lawful owners of all ye above bargained 
premises, and have ourselves good right, full power, and lawful authority 
to make this sale in form and manner as aforesaid, And that ye said Elea- 
zer Cummings, his heirs and assigns shall have, hold, use, occupy, possess 
and enjoy all ye above demised premises, with the appurtenances, free 
and clear from all former or other sales, gifts, grants, thirds dowers, wills, 
mortgages, or any other incumbrances whatever. 

And furthermore we the above said Benjamin Long, Hannah Rogers 
and Thomas Rogers, for ourselves and our heirs Executors and Admin- 
istrators do covenant and promise to and with the above named Eleazer 
Cummings his heirs Executors Administrators and assigns to secure war- 
rantise maintain and defend all and every part of ye above demised prem- 
ises against the lawful claims of any person or persons whatsoever. 

In witness and for confirmation of all above written we the above 
named Benjamin Long, Hannah Rogers and Thomas Rogers have here- 
unto set our hands and seals, this first day of August, in ye second year 
of ye reign of our Sovereign Lord, George ye Second, King of Great 
Britain, &c, Anno Com. 1728. 

signed sealed and delivered Benjamin Long, [skal] 

in presence of us Witnesses. 

Hannah Rogers, [jeal] 

John Huse, 

Thomas Rogers, Jr. [seal] 

Mary Rogers. 



102 HISTORY OK HUDSON 

Essex, Newbury the first day of August, 1728, the within named Ken- 
jamin Long and Hannah Rogers and Thomas Rogeis, Junior, Personally 

acknowledged this instrument, and Sarah Long gave up her light 

of dower in and to the same, before me 

EDWARD SARGENT 

Justice of the Peace. 
Sarah Long above named is the wife of Benjamin long, acknowl- 
edged before me 

BENJAMIN SARGENT 

Justice of the Peace. 
Cambr, July 15, 1730. 

Received and entered in the Registry of Deeds for said County ] ib 
31 Pa 450-1. 
Attest 

IRA FOXCROFT. 
Reg. 

This farm of ninety acres, and later known as the Cum- 
mings farm, was bounded southerly by the south line of 
the Joseph Hills grant, commencing at the Merrimack 
River about 60 rods above Taylor's Falls bridge, thence 
easterly to near the south-west corner of the Spruce Swamp, 
so called, about 106 rods. It included the farm of Aldpn 
E. Cummings, which was the north half of the original 
farm, and also the greater part of the homestead of Kim- 
ball Webster, with the north part of the homestead of the 
late Mrs. Sarah H. Whittier. 

Mr. Cummings invested all his capital in the purchase 
of his farm, and did not immediately erect a house. He was 
engaged quite extensively, during that part of the year 
suited to the business, in gathering turpentine. 

This was done by "boxing" the large white pine trees 
with a hatchet made for that purpose, and called a "turpen- 
tine hatchet." These boxes, as they were called, were made 
by cutting a cavity into the trunks of large trees in such a 
way that it would hold a considerable quantity of the liquid 
turpentine, which would gather in them in warm weather, 
in the spring and summer season. 

This was removed from the boxes, stored in barrels, 
and sold for use in the Royal Navy of England. 



PIONEER FAMILIES 103 

Mr. Cummings, then a singie man, while engaged in 
the turpentine business, improving his land for a farm, and 
erecting a two-story dwelling house for his future residence 
boarded with Mr. Nathan Cross, on the farm adjoining his 
own upon the north. 

How long this continued is not known, but probably 
two or three years, or until he had completed his house so 
far as to be habitable. After the completion of the build- 
ing, and until his first marriage, which may have been two, 
or more years, he resided in his new house alone, being his 
own cook and housekeeper. 

At that time a band of friendly Indians resided, at least 
a part of the time, on the small island at the mouth of the 
Nashua river, which at that period, and for more than a 
hundred years later, was an island in fact, but which now 
forms the point between the Merrimack and the Nashua. 

He related that many nights while alone in his house 
he could hear the Indians carousing all night, and on cross- 
ing the river in his canoe the next morning he would find 
nearly the whole band intoxicated. 

Possibly it is now known to but very few, that a band 
of Indians from Maine, said to have been of the Penobscot 
tribe, visited the same island in 1834. They paddled their 
bark canoes along the coasts of Maine and New Hamp- 
shire, and up the Merrimack river. 

There was a considerable number of men, women and 
children, and they remained a long time during the summer 
and autumn of that year. The writer, then about six years 
of age, distinctly recalls the fact of crossing the river in a 
boat with his mother, and visiting the Indian camp com- 
posed of quite a number of real Indian wigwams. She 
traded ears of green corn for small fancy baskets made 
by the squaws. Here, about the junction of the two rivers 
— the Merrimack and the Nashua — and on both sides of the 
Merrimack, had long been a favorite location for the Indi- 
ans, and fields upon these fertile alluvial intervales had 
been cultivated by them for many years for the production 



104 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

of corn and other vegetables, especially on the east side of 
the river. 

Here also they buried their dead. The writer, in 
1859, when excavating for the cellar over which his house 
was built, and where he now resides, 1912, soon made the 
discovery that he was at work in an ancient Indianburying 
ground. This is situated nearly opposite to, but a little be- 
low the mouth of the Nashua, on a sandy knoll not more 
than twelve or fourteen rods from the east bank of the 
Merrimack. 

It is very true that human remains were in but few of 
the many graves discovered — probably not more than half 
a dozen. No account was taken of the number of graves 
opened, but I believe we dug out more than thirty in all. 
They were nearly all of a comparatively uniform length and 
depth — from two and a half to thee feet deep and from four 
to nearly five feet in length. There was seen a thin streak 
or vein of a black substance at the bottom of the graves 
opened, which would seem to indicate that after a grave had 
been opened a fire was first kindled in it before the body 
was placed therein. The black vein in the bottom made it 
very easy to discover the ancient graves, even when noth- 
ing else remained visible. 

The material of the earth throughout the entire exca- 
vation was fine sand. 

The legs of the bodies buried were folded back at the 
knees, as I have found to be true of all Indian burials that 
I have discovered in this section of the country. This ac- 
counts for the shortness of the graves. 

In one grave, I found the bones almost perfect, and 
covered with pine bark which was in a good state of pres- 
ervation. When the bark was lifted the straight, black hair 
was plainly to be seen about the head, but after exposure 
it soon disappeared, or immediately turned to dust. In 
another grave was the skeleton of an adult almost perfect. 

In several others, traces of bones were visible. Buried 
a few inches above such remains of bones or charcoal in 




CHARLES E. CUMMINGS 



PIONEER FAMILIES 105 

one of the graves was found the back part of a box tortoise 
shell which was in perfect condition, and which may have 
been used as a drinking vessel by the Indians, or for some 
other domestic purpose. In several graves were found 
chips of flint and in several others round or oval, smooth 
stones of from one to two pounds weight, each of which 
was slightly nicked on four sides, as though having been 
slung as a war club or for some other purpose. 

Probably this spot had been used by the Indians on 
both sides of the Merrimack as a burial place for their 
dead, perhaps for many generations. Only a small portion 
of the burying ground was dug over. How far it extended 
outside of that I have no means of knowing. 

Many stone implements have formerly been found 
upon this sandy knoll, which extends north and south par- 
allel with the Merrimack for several hundred feet. Con- 
siderable quantities of pottery have been found by the 
writer along the bank of the river. 

Mr. Cummings, finding, as he did, these corn fields all 
ready for the plow, had a comparatively easy task, during 
the first years of his settlement here, to produce corn and 
other vegetables sufficient to supply his needs. He mar- 
ried first, July 28, 1734, Mary Varnum, born in Dracut, 
June 28, 1706, O. S. The house erected by Mr. Cummings 
was located very nearly opposite the mouth of the Nashua 
River upon a rise about twenty rods almost directly north 
of the present dwelling house of Kimball Webster. The 
house was of solid construction, two stories high on the 
front or south side, and one story on the back side. It 
was about forty feet long and thirty feet wide, and was in- 
habited until 1847, and was demolished in 1848. A de- 
pression is still plainly visible where it stood. 

Mr. Cummings very soon established a ferry across 
the Merrimack, which was probably the first public ferry 
in this town. The ferry landing on the east side of the 
river was almost directly opposite the point of land be- 
tween the two rivers at their junction, where a depression 



106 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

is still noticeable in the bank. The old ferry road up the 
river bank on the west side, just below the mouth of the 
Nashua, is also very plain to be seen. 

He also opened a tavern at his house, which he kept 
for several years. 

At that time the road from the Cummings' ferry passed 
easterly, south of Mr. Cummings' house, and still easterly 
to the next rise, and then northerly to near the place where 
Mr. Cross' house stood, which will be described later, and 
then easterly across the small spring brook, thence north- 
erly and easterly to what is now the Derry road, a little 
north of the Catholic Cemetery. His wife died "Septem- 
ber 17, 1759, aged 53 years 2 months and ten days." "We 
lived together twenty and five years and 1 month and 20 
days." (Copy of original record written by Eleazer Cum- 
mings). 

They had no children. 

He also recorded on the same paper: "July 12 day 
1764, married to my second wife." 

He married, second, Phebe, daughter of Josiah and 
Phebe Richardson of Litchfield, born January 19, 1728. 
They had two children, Eleazer 5 , born June 16, 1765, and 
Phebe 5 , born July 8, 1768. Mr. Cummings died December 
8, 1780, aged 79 years, and his widow, Phebe, died Decem- 
ber 27, 1788, aged about 60 years. 

They were buried in the Blodgett Cemetery, where 
their head stones still stand with inscriptions that are plain 
and easy to be read. 

He was chosen one of the selectmen at the second 
town meeting, March, 1734, and was later chairman of the 
board. 

Mr. Cummings, while he lived, gave his nephew, Elea- 
zer Cummings, son of his brother Nathaniel, whom he 
brought up, a farm in Londonderry; and also is said to 
have given another young man who had lived with him for 
several years — John Carkin — land for a farm, probably in 
Lyndeborough. 



CHAPTER IX 



Pioneer Families, Continued 

Upon effecting their release from the Indians, through 
their own efforts, Messrs. Cross and Blanchard, as has 
been already mentioned, returned to Dunstable. On his 
way back, the former went to the hollow log where he had 
placed his musket, with his dinner, on the morning of the 
attack of the Indians, to find the weapon just as he had 
left it. This firearm was long owned by Mr. Levi S. Cross 
of Nashua, and has been preserved as an heirloom in the 
Cross family. 

A few months previous to the captivity of Nathan 
Cross, Joseph Butterfield of Dunstable, "in consideration 
of the sum of four hundred and Ten Pounds of Good and 
Current Money of New England," conveyed to Mr. Cross 
that part of the Joseph Hills farm that was willed by him 
to his son-in-law, John Waite. This contained forty-five 
acres, adjoining the land bought by Eleazer Cummings, 
being the next farm north, with meadows and other lands. 
The description, copied from the original deed, is as fol- 
lows: 

A certain Peace or Parcel of Land Scituate Lying and being in the 
township of Dunstable aforesd on the East side of Merrimack river Lying 
in a farm Commonly Called & Known by ye Name of Hillses farm being 
forty-five acres be the same so much more or less bounded as followeth 
viz Beginning on Merrimack River at an oak tree Marked B & W and 
from thence up sd River about fifty pole to another tree marked so from 
thence Running Partly North East to another tree marked so from thence 
southerly about forty poles to Mr. Longs Corner thence Westerly by the 
Land of Long to Merrimack River to the sd tree where we began or 
however the same is otherwise bounded or reported to be bounded, as 
also another Distinct Parcel of upland being an Island Lying on the west 
side of Merrimack River in the Mouth of Nashua River as it is Common- 
ly called being about four acres be the same so much more or less being 
bound round by water and also a certain parcel of Meadow Lying in the 

107 



108 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Town aforesaid on the East side of Merrimack River Containing six 
acres be the same so much more or less and lying near a pond called 
Watannanack Pond and is bound round \vh Great pines marked with J 
and H and on all other points however otherwise bounded as also five 
acres more of Meadow which Lyes in a Great Meadow Commonly called 
and known by the Name of HHlses Great Meadow, which is not as yet 
Laid out to sd Butterfield. 

This deed was dated April 22, 1724, and signed by Joseph and Sarah 
Butterfield, witnessed by Eleazer Tyng and Moses Colburn ; acknowledged 
before Eleazer Tyng, Justice of the Peace, and "Entered in the Registry 
of Deeds for Middlesex, the 20 of May, 1725. Lib. 25, Fol. 85-6" 

" Rec'd 26th April, 1748, Province of New Hampshire, Recorded Lib. 
35 Fol. 231 

D. PIERCE, 

Register. V 

Mr. Cross settled upon his land and erected a house 
probably as early as 1728. This dwelling was located about 
forty rods west of the Deny road, upon a rise of ground, 
a little south-westerly and near the bank of the small spring 
brook in land now owned by Charles A. McAfee. 

Nathan Cross was in Capt. Joseph Blanchard's com- 
pany, scouting on the Merrimack and Connecticut rivers, 
during the French and Indian war in 1754, twelve weeks 
and two days. He was probably twice married, as we find 
recorded in the Dunstable records the births of children of 
Nathan and Sarah Cross: 

Peter, born September 28, 1729; Sarah, born June 26, 
1731; married Joseph Blodgett. 

On the Nottingham records is recorded the birth of 
John Cross, son of Nathan and Mary Cross, born October 
9, 1735. 

Nathan Cross died September 8, 1766. 

The farm remained in the Cross family for nearly one 
hundred and fifty years. The west part of the Catholic 
Cemetery covers a piece of what was the Cross farm, and 
the land of George H. Abbott was once the north side of 
the Nathan Cross farm. 

William Cummings 4 , youngest son of John Cummings 3 , 
Jr., and Elizabeth (Kingsley) Cummings, born in Dun- 



PIONEER FAMILIES 109 

stable, April 24, 1702, a cousin to Eleazer Cummings 4 , be- 
fore mentioned, settled on the next farm north of that of 
Nathan Cross. This homestead contained forty-five acres, 
which was the same devised by Joseph Hills to his grand- 
children, Hannah and Elizabeth Blanchard. He probably 
settled here after the end of Lovewell's war, and at about 
the same time that Nathan Cross settled on his farm ad- 
joining. 

With his cousin, Josiah Cummings 4 , he is supposed to 
have been in the second expedition of the famous Captain 
John Lovewell against the Indians, that left Dunstable, 
January 29, 1725, and which marched triumphantly into 
Dover, and later into Boston, with ten scalps stretched 
on hoops and elevated on poles, for which a bounty of ^100 
for each scalp was paid. 

William and Josiah were both also in the party of 
Captain Lovewell, in his last and fatal expedition that left 
Dunstable about the 16th day of April, O. S. or April 
27th N. S., which numbered forty-six men. After they 
reached Contoocook, William became lame, and returned, 
with Josiah to accompany him, as has been related in a 
former chapter. 

He was Deacon of the church for many years, and 
was a prominent man in the affairs of the town. He was 
elected one of the selectmen in 1736 and in 1748. He mar- 
ried Sarah, daughter of William and Esther Harwood, born 
in Dunstable June 26, 1706. He occupied the farm until 
his death which occured August 29, 1766. His wife died 
in 1769. 

The old Cummings house stood east of the Derry 
road, and a little north of the house of the late Lucien M. 
Tolles. It is probable that a temporary house may have 
been built by him some forty rods further west, where he 
at first resided. 

The children of William and Sarah (Harwood) Cum- 
mings, as found recorded on the Dunstable records, are: 



110 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Sarah, born November 10, 1728; Ebenezer, born Jan- 
uary 29, 1730; John Harwood, born April 24, 1733; Dor- 
cas, born December 18, 1737. 

And on the Nottingham records are: 

Rebecca, born March 17, 1740; Joseph, born October 
15, 1742; Thaddeus, born May 17, 1745. 

The next farm north and adjoining the Deacon Wil- 
liam Cummings farm was the John Taylor garrison place, 
containing forty-five acres, an account of which has already 
been given. 

Eleazer Cummings 4 , Jr., as he was designated on the 
records, was a son of Abraham Cummings 8 , born in Wo- 
burn, April 9, 1704, and was a cousin to Eleazer and Wil- 
liam. 

In 1733, when the first tax list was made up, he was a 
resident, and was occupying the south half of the ninety 
acres of land that Joseph Hills devised to his grand-chil- 
dren, Hannah Vinton and Samuel Green. 

This farm was next north and adjoining the John Tay- 
lor garrison farm, later the Marsh farm, and now, 1912, the 
westerly part, and some of the easterly part, being owned 
by the heirs of Josiah K. Wheeler. The Elijah R. Reed 
house is on a part of the same farm ; and a small part of 
his farm, and some of the land of James A. Philips, includ- 
ing the place where his house stands, also the land of 
Menzell S. French. 

The Eleazer Cummings, Jr's., house was located just 
north of the present highway, at the foot of the hill, be- 
tween the house of Josiah K. Wheeler and that of Elijah R. 
Reed. The house was quite near the road, not far east from 
the present boundary line between Mr. Wheeler and Mr. 
Reed, and the old cellar was visible until within recent 
years. He married, September 4, 1729, Rachel Proctor of 
Londonderry. He seems to have married a second time, 
for at his death his widow, Mary, declined to administer 
on his estate, and his brother Josiah, then of Litchfield, 
was appointed administrator instead, November 19, 1735. 



PIONEER FAMILIES 111 

Daniel Proctor, of Chelmsford, brother of his deceased 
wife, Rachel, was appointed guardian of the two children. 
Eleazer of "Actovvn," one of these, selected the same per- 
son as his guardian, as did Abraham of "Chelmsford," Au- 
gust 29, 1748. Mr. Proctor made report of his guardian- 
ship in 1751. 

He was assessed in 1733-4 and 35. His widow, Mary 
Cummings, was assessed in 1736. 

His estate at the probating of the will is described 
as "a homestead of fifty-five acres and one-third of twenty 
acres of meadow" — part of the Joseph Hills farm. 

The children of Eleazer Cummings, Jr., and Rachel 
(Proctor) Cummings as recorded were: 

Eleazer, born December 15, 1730; Abraham, born 
June 1, 1734; died May 13, 1756. 

He died in 1735, but his death is not recorded. 

Probably he did not settle here until after his marriage 
in 1729, when he was about twenty-five years ot age. 

Jabez Davis appears to have occupied the next farm 
north of that owned by Eleazer Cummings, Jr., it being 
the north half of the ninety acres devised by Joseph Hills 
to his grand-children, Hannah Vinton and Samuel Green, 
and later the Fitch P. Marsh farm, and still later the Carl- 
ton farm. That part of the original farm east of the high- 
way has been long separated from the west part, which is 
principally intervale land, and is now owned by Abram 
Feryall, who also owns the Pierce farm adjoining on the 
north. 

Jabez Davis was a Quaker, as appears from an article 
in the warrant for the annual town meeting for March 10, 
1735, which reads as follows: 

"To see if the town will vote to abate Jabez Davis of 
part of his Rates as towns usually do Quakers." 

He was assessed herein 1733-4-5-6 and 7. He proba- 
bly removed from this town about 1737. 

Upon the record is found the birth of Thomas Davis, 
son of Jabez and Ruth Davis, born April 8, 1733. 



112 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

The date of his settlement here is not known, but evi- 
dently it was after the close of Lovewell's War in 1725. 

In 1738 and 1739 the farm was assessed to Robert Mc- 
Keen, and in 1740 and 1741 to Jeremiah Carlton. The 
tax list for 1742, the first year after the settlement of the 
Province line between New Hampshire and Massachusetts, 
cannot be found, and probably there was none made for 
that year. 

John Marsh was assessed there for 1743, and after un- 
til 1776. 

Ebenezer Spalding, son of Edward of Chelmsford, 
born January 13, 1683; married Anna and had child- 
ren ; 

Edward, born March 8, 1708; Bridget, born December 
26, 1709; Experience, born March 22, 1711; Reuben, born 
March 27, 1715, died young; Stephen, born May 28, 1717; 
Sarah, born November 27, 1719; Esther, born February 27, 
1722; Mary, born May 4, 1724; Reuben, born July 26, 1728; 
Anna, born November 30, 1731. 

Edward Spalding, son of Ebenezer, born March 8, 1708, 
settled about the time of the incorporation of Nottingham, 
on that part of the Joseph Hills farm willed by him to his 
grand-daughter Elizabeth, daughter of his son Gershom, 
next north of that settled by Jabez Davis, and containing 
forty-six acres as stated in said will. This with the six 
farms already described, included all the land of the Joseph 
Hills farm south of that part willed to Samuel Hills, and 
settled by his three sons, Nathaniel, Henry and James. 

He married Elizabeth . Children as found re- 
corded: Levi, born October 23, 1737 Elizabeth, born No- 
vember 26, 1741; Lucy, born June 27, 1744; Esther, born 
August 11, 1747; Sarah, born April 6, 1754. 

Ebenezer Spalding, father of Edward, born in Chelms- 
ford, January 13, 1683, settled on the south part of the 
same land that Joseph Hills devised to his son Samuel, and 
that Samuel conveyed to his sons, Henry and James, Au- 
gust 22, 1721. 



PIONEER FAMILIES 113 

James Hills, after living in the garrison with his broth- 
ers, Nathaniel and Henry, on January 11, 1723, sold his 
part of the land to Samuel Whiting of Dunstable, and re- 
turned to Newbury. This was the same land settled by 
Ebenezer Spalding, and was the next farm north of the 
one owned by his son Edward. It was later the north part 
of the Pierce farm, and Edward's farm was the south part. 
Ebenezer Spalding was the ancestor of nearly all the 
Spalding families that have been residents of this town, 
and which have been quite numerous. 

He resided on the farm until about 1740. He was as- 
sessed here from 1733 to 1740, and from 1758 to 1764. Jo- 
siah Cummings 4 , son of Abraham, born July 12, 1698, was 
residing on the farm in 1741, and he received a deed of the 
same from Ebenezer Spalding, January 10, 1742. Josiah 
Cummings had formerly resided in Litchfield, and was 
probably proprietor of the first ferry established in that 
town across the Merrimack River, called Cummings' Ferry, 
and later Lutwyche's Ferry, and since the time of the Rev- 
olutionary war known as Thornton's Ferry, having been 
owned by the Honorable Matthew Thornton, one of the 
signers of the Declaration of Independence, who resided 
on the Merrimack side of the river. 

This Josiah Cummings was a brother of Eleazer, )r. f 
who died in 1735, as already noted, and a cousin of Eleazer 
and William. He served under Capt. John Lovewell, but 
was not in the bloody fight at Pequawket, May 9, 1725. 
The following deed, copied from the original, makes it cer- 
tain that he was one of Captain Lovewell's soldiers. 

TO ALL PEOPLE to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting. 

Know ye That I Josiah Cumings of Litchfield, in the County of 
Middlesex and Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, Hus- 
bandman. For and in Consideration of the Sum of Ninety Pounds bills 
of credit, to me in Hand before the Ensealing hereof, well and truly paid 
by Thomas Colburn of Nottingham, in the county and province afore- 
said, Husbandman, the Receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, and 
myself therewith fully satisfied and contented, and thereof, and of every 
part and parcel thereof, do exonerate, aquit and discharge him the said 



114 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Thomas Colburn, his Heirs, Executors and Administrators forever by 
these Presents : Have given, granted, bargained, sold, aliened, conveyed 
and confirmed, and by these Presents, do freely, fully and absolutely give, 
grant, bargain, sell, aliene, convey and confirm unto him, the said Thomas 
Colburn, his Heirs and Assigns for ever, One full part or Shair of all that 
Right Granted unto me the sd Josiah Cumings with Zacheus Lovewell 
and others, the whole' tract containing two thousand one hundred ninety 
acres Granted in Consideration of our serving his Majesty under the 
command of ye I. ate Capt. John Lovewell, and Oidered to be Laid out 
Joyning to Suncook or Lovewells Town So Called, on the west Side of 
Merrimack River. Sd Colburn fully Complying with and fullfiling al ye 
duties orders and Restrictions ordered to be done on ye whole of the 
Grant maid to the Said Josiah Cumings by the Said Gn 11 court &c. 

To have and TO HOLD the said granted and bargained Premises, 
with All the Appurtenances, Priveleges and Commodities to lhe same 
belonging, or in any wise appertaining to him the said Thomas Colburn 
his Heirs and Assigns forever: To his and their only proper Use, Bene- 
fit and Behoof for ever. 

And the said Josiah Cumings for my Self Heirs, Executors and Ad- 
minstrators, do hereby Covenant, Promise and Grant to and with the said 
Thomas Colburn, his Heirs and Assigns, that before the ensealing hereof 
I am the true, sole and lawful Owner of the above bargained Premises, 
and am lawfully seized and posessed of the same in my own proper right, 
as a good, perfect and absolute Estate of Inheritance in Fee Simple: 
And have in my Self good Right, full Power and lawful Authority, to 
grant, bargain, sell, convey and confirm said bargained Premises, in Man- 
ner aforesaid : And that the Said Thomas Colburn, his Heirs and As- 
signs shall and may from Time to Time, and at all times for ever here- 
after, by Force and Vurtue of these Presents, lawfully, peaceably and 
quietly have, hold, use, occupy, posess and enjoy the said demised and 
bargained Premises, with the Appurtenances free and clear, freely and 
clearly acquited, exonerated and discharged of, from, all and all manner 
of former or other Gifts, Grants, Bargains, Sales, Leases, Mortgages, 
Wills, Entails. Joyntures, Dowries, Judgments, Executions, or Incum- 
brances, of what Name or Nature forever, that might in any Manner or 
Degree obstruct or make void this present Deed. 

Furthermore, 1 The Sd Josiah Cumings for myself, my Heiis, Ex- 
ecutors and Administrators, do Covenant and Engage the above demised 
Premises to him the said Thomas Colburn his Heirs and Assigns, against 
the lawful claims or Demands of any Person or Persons whatsoever, for 
ever hereafter to warrant, secure and defend by these Presents. 

In WITNESS whereof I the said Josiah Cumings have hereunto set 
my Hand and Seal this fifth Day of June in the Eleventh Year of His 
Majesty's Reign Annoque Domini, One Thousand Seven Hundred and 
Thirty Eight. 



PIONEER FAMILIES 115 

signed sealed and 

Delivered in Presence of Josiah Cumings [seal] 

John 

John Bell 

Middlesex S. S. Dunstable July ye 5th 1738. 

The Within Named Josiah Cumings Personally Appearing Acknowl- 
edged the Within Instrument to be his free Act & Deed Coram me 
JOSEPH BLANCHARD Jus. Peace. 

Prov. of New Hampshire. 

Recorded Lib. 34. Fol. 271. 

Kxam'd D. Peirck Reed. 

He was assessed in this town from 1741 to 1761. A 
Josiah Cummings, who was probably this same Josiah, mar- 
ried May 15, 1721, in Woodstock, Conn., Mary Fressell. 
His first wife died very likely previous to 1738, for no wife 
of his signed the deed he gave to Thomas Colburn, June 

5, 1738. He married second, Miriam , probably soon 

after 1738. 

By his first wife he had one son, Jonah, Jr., who was 
assessed in this town from 1759 to 1784, and who died un- 
married. 

On October 13, 1784, he conveyed the homestead, and 
other lands owned by him, to Richard Marshall, "contain- 
ing in all about 90 acres, together with all the personal es- 
tate that is in the posession of said Josiah Cumings, or 
may be found elsewhere, or any other land now in his 
posession or may come in his possession hereafter by pro- 
priety." 

Miriam, the widow of Josiah Cummings, Sen., proba- 
bly died before the date of this sale, as she joined in the 
deeds with Josiah in the sale of lands, March 3, 1773. This 
deed from Josiah and Miriam Cummings, in consideration 
of ninety-two pounds and fourteen shillings, conveyed to 
Simeon Barrett "The one-half of all that tract of land in 
said Nottingham West which Josiah Cumings purchased 
of Ebenezer Spalding as by a deed of the same Dated y e 
10th day of January, 1742, that is the River lot containing 
50 acres, one half the same and one half the buildings on 



116 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

the same. Also one half of what Josiah Cumings pur- 
chased of Greele joining to the above said land containing 
50 acres. Being half of the same what ant sold of it. Also 
one half of a wood lot in said Nottingham West, contain- 
ing about 40 acres which was purchased of Thomas Marsh. 
One half of the other belonged to the River lot, Viz., one 
half of the same." 

They also conveyed land to Samuel Hills, July 20, 
1778. 

Josiah Cummings 4 , Sen., died February 8, 1761, in the 
64th year of his age. 

The foregoing accounts for eight of the settlers on the 
Joseph Hills Farm at the time of the making of the first 
tax list in 1733, which does not include the two Hills broth- 
ers. Beginning at the southerly end they are as follows: 

Eleazer Cummings, Nathan Cross, 

William Cummings, John Taylor, 

Eleazer Cummings, Jr., Jabez Davis, 

Edward Spalding, Ebenezer Spalding. 

It is very evident that none of these — with the excep- 
tion of John Taylor, who lived in a garrison house — had 
settled here until after the end of Lovewell's war. If 
there were possibly any such, there certainly could not 
have been more than one or two. At that time Henry 
Hills lived at the garrison, and, perhaps, Nathaniel also. 

Yet it is far more likely that soon after the close of 
the war, or before 1733, that Nathaniel Hills had bought 
the Tyng land containing nine hundred acres and reaching 
from the river easterly about two and one-half miles, and 
adjoining the Joseph Hills Farm and the Foxcroft land on 
the south and the William Brenton land on the north, and 
that he had taken up his residence on this land, about half 
a mile north of the garrison and near the bank of the river. 
If he had not already removed, he certainly did so previous 
to the incorporation of Litchfield, July 4, 1734. 

Be this as it may, he settled there on the river bank, 
and established a ferry across the river sometime later, 



PIONEER FAMILIES 117 

which was ever after known as Hills' Ferry, and which was 
operated as such until the building of Taylor's Falls Bridge 
in 1827. That place was in his possession, and in that of 
his posterity, until after the decease of George E. Hill, 
which occurred September 16, 1904. Neither did Henry 
Hills remain very long at the garrison after the incorpora- 
tion of Nottingham. About 1739 or 1740, he sold that 
place to Deacon Roger Chase, and removed nearly a mile 
and a quarter east, to a farm that was a part of the Na- 
thaniel Hills Tyng land. 



CHAPTER X 

Sf.ttlers of Hills Farms 

We have seen that at the date of the town of Notting- 
ham's incorporation, in 1733, there existed a compact set- 
tlement of some ten families on the Joseph Hills Farm, 
occupying the nine farm divisions as they then had been 
established, and as they continued to exist substantially for 
many years later. Many of these old farm lines remain to 
the present day. At that time no permanent settlement 
seems to have been founded between that of Mr. Eleazer 
Cummings at the south end of the "Hills" settlement and 
the Joseph Blodgett garrison nearly two and one-half miles 
further down the river, which has already been mentioned. 

Thomas Pollard, son of William, of Coventry, Eng- 
land, came to Billerica, Mass., about 1692. His mother 
was Mary Farnum, sister of Edward. He married in No- 
vember, 1692, his cousin, Sarah Farnum, daughter of Ed- 
ward. He died April 4, 1724. She died May 3, 1725. 
Their children were: 

Mary, born August 20, 1693; Edward, born November 
4, 1694; Barbara, born December 6, 1695, married Joseph 
Pierce, Chelmsford, February 13, 1734; Thomas, born Feb- 
ruary 16, 1697; William, born August 3, 1698; John, born 
September 1,1699; Sarah, born February 16,1701; Jos- 
eph, born May 3, 1702, married Ann Hills; Oliver, born 
July 23,1703, married Hannah Hills, July 23, 1736; Sarah, 
born December 21, 1704; Nathaniel, born October 18, 
1706; James, born October 5, 1708; Walter, born Decem- 
ber 28, 1709; Elizabeth, born March 5, 1713; Benjamin, 
born August 18, 1715. 

Thomas Pollard, Jr., born in Billerica, February 16, 
1697, was one of the early settlers of Dunstable, on the 
east side of the Merrimack. 

118 



SETTLERS OF HILLS FARMS 119 

His farm was next south of, and adjoining that of Jos- 
eph Blodgett, and was bounded on the west by the river. 
It was the same as was later the James F. Palmer place, 
now owned by Sidney P. Gowing. The present house is 
on the west side of the Lowell road, opposite its junction 
with the road that bears to the east about two and two- 
thirds miles south of Taylor's Falls Bridge. The exact 
date of his settlement here is not known. Probably it was 
not until about the close of Lovewell's war. 

The following is copied from the Dunstable town 
records : 

At a meeting Monday, March 6, 1731-2, chose Thomas Colburn, Jr., 
Constable for the east side of the river . Also whereas, Thomas Colburn, 
Jr., hath been at this meeting legally chosen constable for the ensuing 
year, and he hath agreed with Thomas Pollard for serving as constable 
in his stead and place, and to clear him the said Colburn as other persons 
who by law is exempted from being chosen constable by reason of their 
serving as such, 

Now therefore voted and agreed that the said Thomas be accepted 
in his place, and that he serve as constable in his room for the ensuing 
year, said Thomas Pollard complying with the same. 

Thomas Pollard was in the French and Indian war in 
1756 and also in 1758. 

The children of Thomas and Mary Pollard were: 
*John, born September 20, 1727; *Ebenezer, born Decem- 
ber 4, 1728 ; *Thomas, born September 17, 1732; died May 
18, 1756; Dorcas, born January 12, 1735; died September 
1, 1736; Amos, born March 2, 1737; Rachel, born March 
26, 1739; Molly, born June 10, 1741; died August 24, 1753; 
Samuel, born July 10, 1743 ; Timothy, born August 24, 
1745. 

Thomas Pollard died July 23, 1769. 

Joseph Winn, son of Joseph and Martha (Blodgett) 
Winn, born in Woburn, Mass., September 9, 1698, with his 
brother Josiah, was in Nottingham at the time of its incor- 



Dunstablc Records. 



120 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

poration. Josiah did not remain to become a permanent 
resident. 

Joseph, soon after, settled upon a farm a short dis- 
tance below that of Thomas Pollard, bordering on the 
river, a part of which farm has ever since been occupied by 
his descendants. At present it is the homestead of Elmer 
C. Winn, a lineal descendant in the sixth generation of the 
family, as follows: Joseph Winn 1 and Martha (Blodgett) 
Winn, of Woburn; Joseph Winn 2 , born in Woburn, Sep- 
tember 9, 1698; Joseph Winn 8 , born November 17,1723; 
Joseph Winn 4 , born April 16, 1760; Paul Tenney Winn 5 ,, 
born August 1, 1805; Elmer C. Winn 6 , born . 

The original Joseph Winn farm included the home- 
stead of Elmer C. Winn and also the farm adjoining it on 
the north, owned by the late Reuben Spalding. 

The first house built by Mr. Winn was on the north 
half of the farm, not far from the present location of the 
Spalding house. Joseph Winn, Sen., always resided on the 
north half of the farm, but Joseph, Jr., had the south half, 
or the part ever since owned in the Winn family, and built 
a house and other buildings upon it probably as early as 
1745. The county road, laid out by the court's committee, 
the report of which was accepted at a court holden at Ports- 
mouth, the first Tuesday of March, 1749, and which ex- 
tended from Litchfield line to the Massachusetts boundary, 
in its description has the following: 

Thence S 7° W. 26 rods to a stake east of Joseph Winns Barn, 
.South through said Winns orchard, 18 rods to a stake, which sd 18 rods 
the road to be but two rods and a half wide, S. 32° E. 17 rods to a maple 
marked, S 15° W 25 rods to a stake near Joseph Winn, Jr's. corn Barn. 

Thus it appears that the distance of Joseph Winn, Jr's., 
buildings from his father's was about sixty rods, or nearly 
the same distance from each other as at present are the 
Winn and Spalding houses. 

Abiather Winn, the youngest son of Joseph, Sen., 
born January 4, 1746, either bought of his father, or inher- 
ited the north part of the farm, but he died August 24, 



SETTLERS OF HILLS FARMS 121 

1783, aged 38. His executors, William Burns and Abigail 
Burns, in 1787, in consideration of two hundred and forty 
pounds conveyed to Phineas Underwood land containing 
seventy acres in Nottingham West, lying easterly on the 
public highway and westerly on Merrimack River, north- 
erly on Gerrish Lot, so called, and southerly by land of 
Joseph Winn. 

It is understood that Mr. Joseph Winn, Sen., once 
owned the mill on Musquash, or Nacook brook, at the place 
near the highway where there has ever since been a saw and 
grist mill, until within a few years, long known as Wilson's 
Mills. 

Mr. Winn died August 25, 1781, in the 84th year of 
his age, and his wife, Elizabeth, died in September, 1778, 
in the 74th year of her age. They were buried in the 
Blodgett Cemetery. 

The children of Joseph and Elizabeth Winn were: 
Joseph, born November 17, 1723, in Woburn; Benjamin, 
born August 6, 1726, in Woburn; Elizabeth, born August 
10, 1728, in Woburn; Katherine, born April 11, 1733, in 
Nottingham ; Micajah, born October 24, 1735, in Notting- 
ham; Nathan, born October 15, 1738, in Nottingham; Sus- 
anna, born, September 10, 1741, in Nottingham; Abiather, 
born January 4, 1746, in Nottingham. 

The exact date at which he came here is not known. 
We find the following record of 1732: 

Allowed Joseph Winn, as by certificate of payment of rates in \\ il- 
mington when he was rated in this town, 14s — 3d. 

Thomas Colburn, son of Thomas and Mary Colburn 
of Dunstable, was born in Dunstable, April 28, 1702 

Samuel Sewell, Merchant, of Boston, April 21, 1726, 
conveyed to Thomas Colburn, Jr., of Dunstable, in consid- 
eration of one hundred and sixty pounds, three tracts of 
land in said Dunstable. 

The first tract, on the east side of the Merrimack River, containing 
by estimation two hundred acres. Bounded westerly by Merrimack Riv- 



122 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

er, Northerly by Beals land, Easterly on the second division of land, and 
Southerly by Robert Parishes land. 

One other parcel thereof, also on the East side of the River, 400 
acres, more or less. Beginning at a white oak tree nigh Davernport's 
Meadow, nigh to a run of water that conies out of said Meadow, and runs 

easterly by Davernport's land till it with John Blanchard's line, and 

runs easterly by him 160 poles to an oak marked J. \V. B. and runs by 
Mr. Welds line, easterly, to Mr. Howards Farm, and southerly back again, 
bounding by the rim of meadow to the said oak where we first began. 

The third and last being a parcel of upland containing 100 acres, more 
or less, also on East side of River. Bounded Easterly by Mr. Howards 
Farm & Northerly by Mr. Welds, and runs easterly by him to a white oak 
Marked T. and is bounded Southerly by the Town Common to Mr. How- 
ards line and by him to the first corner where we began. 

Thomas Colburn settled on the first described lot, ex- 
tending easterly from the river, containing two hundred 
acres, more or less, a part of which was until recently owned 
by Isaac D. Colburn and Henry T. Colburn, descendants 
of Thomas Colburn, of the fourth generation. The Eugene 
Donnelly heirs own the better part of the farming lands 
and the buildings, occupying the old Colburn house, which 
is probably situated at, or near, the place where Thomas 
Colburn first settled and made his home. It is west of the 
Lowell road about one third of a mile. The farm adjoins 
the Joseph Winn farm on the south. He probably settled 
there not very long after he purchased the land of Samuel 
Sewell. 

We have already seen that he was chosen constable at 
a town meeting in Dunstable, March 6, 1732, for the east 
side of the river, and that he agreed with Thomas Pollard 
"to serve in his stead and place and to clear him the said 
Colburn, as other persons who by law is exempt from being 
chosen constable by reason of their serving as such." By 
which it would appear that he had previously served in 
that office. 

Captain Thomas Colburn was a prominent and influ- 
ential citizen in the affairs of the town in its early settle- 
ment. He was one of the selectmen in 1735, and was 
chairman of that board in 1740-48 and '54. He was mod- 



SETTLERS OF HILLS FARMS 123 

erator of the annual town meetings for nine years between 
1740 and 1758 inclusive. He was chosen delegate to the 
Massachusetts General Court in 1741, "to procure abate- 
ment of county tax, in consequence of the town being di- 
vided by the new Province Line." 

We find no record of any children by his first wife. 
An inscription in a small burial ground in the south part 
of the town reads: 

Hannah, wife of Thomas Colburn, 
died March 26, 1756, aged 53—3—6. 

He afterwards married Mary ; their children 

were: Thomas, born November 12, 1761; Isaac, born Jan- 
uary 25, 1763; Zaccheus, born February 16, 1765. 

He also had a negro servant, Titus, born April 2, 1742. 

The following is copied from the town records: 

Captain Thomas Colburn died August 30, 1765, in the 64th year of 
his age. 

Thomas Colburn, Jr., son of Capt. Thomas and Mary Colburn, died 
August 30, 1765, in the 4th year of his age. Both killed by lightning. 

The widow, Mary Colburn, so suddenly bereaved of a 
husband and son, and left with two small boys, the eldest 
about two and one-half years of age, sometime previous to 
1769, married Major Samuel Moore, formerly of Litchfield. 
They resided on the Colburn farm, where he was assessed 
until 1784. Probably Major Moore died about that time. 
His widow died August 30, 1818, aged 93 years. 

Mr. Colburn's next neighbor south was Zaccheus Love- 
well. He was the son of John Lovewell, Sen., and brother 
of Captain John, the hero of the Pigwacket fight, who was 
killed by the Indians, May 8, 1725. Zaccheus Lovewell 
was born in Dunstable July 22, 1701. He was a Colonel 
in the French and Indian war. He died April 12, 1772. 

Major Zaccheus Lovewell was a resident of Notting- 
ham when the first tax list was made up, and lived upon 
the farm adjoining that of Thomas Colburn, later and un- 
til within a few years known as the Chase place. It is now 



124 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

owned by Silas T. Steele's sons, Fred G. and George S. 
It is not certainly known where the house of Major Love- 
well stood, but most probably on or near the site of Mr. 
Steele's buildings, and a short distance from the old Col- 
burn residence. Possibly it may have been on the west 
side of the River road, a little south of its junction with 
the Colburn road, and a short distance south-east of Num- 
ber Two school house. He was a very capable man in the 
affairs of the town. He was a member of the board of 
selectmen in 1734, 1739, 40, 43, 45 and 46, being its chair- 
man three terms, 1743-45-46. He was moderator of the 
annual town meeting in 1746, and was a delegate to the 
Massachusetts General Court in 1733 and 1734. 

His farm extended from the river easterly as far as 
the River road, and probably much farther. The births of 
the children of Zaccheus and Esther Lovewell, as found 
recorded in this town, are as follows: Esther, born No- 
vember 10, 1728; Lucy, born January 12, 1730; Mary, born 
May 20, 1732; Zaccheus, born December 16, 1735; Noah, 
born April 1, 1742; Sarah, born October 25, 1744; Han- 
nah, born February 16, 1747. 

Major Lovewell removed, about 1748, from this town 
to Dunstable, N. H., now Nashua. 

Ephraim Cummings, son of Thomas and Priscilla 
(Warner) Cummings, born in Dunstable, March 10, 1706, 
married, 1732, Elizabeth Butler, born in Woburn, Mass., 
September 4, 1706, daughter of Deacon John Butler, the 
first settler in that part of Nottingham that is now the 
westerly part of Pelham. 

John Butler bought of Jonathan Tyng, in 1721, two 
tracts of land in the east part of Dunstable, containing in 
all six hundred acres adjoining what was then — and until 
the settlement of the Province line in 1741 — the Dracut 
boundary. He settled there in 1722 and built a log house 
in the form of a garrison. It is supposed that this house 
stood near the present Mammoth road, at the place for- 
merly known as the John Gage place, easterly of Gumpas 






SETTLERS OF HILLS FARMS 125 

Tond. Deacon John Butler was one of the most prominent 
and useful men in Nottingham, previous to the incorpora- 
tion of Pelham in 1746, when the east part of Nottingham 
became a part of this new town. 

Thomas Cummings, the father of Ephraim, was one of 
the proprietors of the township of Dunstable, and had a 
tract of land laid out to him east of Hills Meadow — now in 
Hudson — and running north-easterly one and a half miles, 
and about forty rods wide. John Cummings, Sen., also a 
proprietor, had a lot of the same dimensions laid out to 
him adjoining that of Thomas on the north. 

Ephraim Cummings settled upon a part of these lands 
that had been laid out to his father and grandfather as a 
part of their share of the proprietary land of Dunstable, 
more than forty years previous. 

He was a cousin to Eleazer, son of Nathaniel, Eleazer, 
son of Abraham, Deacon William and Josiah Cummings, 
all early settlers of this town. 

His house was located on the south side of Bush Hill, 
at the foot of the long descent, and on the south side of 
the present highway, where two cellars are visible still, a 
short distance from each other. There is also another cel- 
lar in sight on the opposite side of the highway, a little 
northeast from the others, indicating that there have been 
at least three dwellings on this farm since its settlement. 

It is likely that Mr. Cummings settled thereabout the 
time of his marriage in 1732. At this time, and for a few 
years later, his nearest neighbors must have been at the 
settlement of his father-in-law, John Butler, near Gumpas 
Pond in Pelham. He was another active, substantial, use- 
ful man in the affairs of Nottingham. 

He was one of the selectmen in 1756, 57, 62, 63 and 1766. 
He served as moderator of the annual town meetings in 
1762 and 1763, and was elected a delegate to the New 
Hampshire General Court in 1760. 

The children of Ephraim and Elizabeth (Butler) Cum- 
mings, as their births are recorded, were: Peter, born De- 



126 HTSTORV OF HUDSON 

cember 8, 1733; Sarah, born May 12, 1736; married Sam- 
uel Page; David, born May 20, 1738; Elizabeth, born Oc 
tober 26, 1740; married Nathaniel Haselton; Ephraim, 
born April 19, 1743; Hannah, born April 29,1745; married 
Joseph Cummings; Priscilla, born July 7, 1747; married 
Jonathan Lund, Jr. 

The farm continued in the possession of his descend- 
ants to the third generation. No record of the death of 
Mr. Cummings or of that of his wife is found. But an item 
exists in the diary of Nathaniel Merrill, stating that be 
made a coffin for Ephraim Cummings, and that his funeral 
occurred March 11, 1771. 

Ensign John Snow was, in 1733, one of the eightecr 
settlers in what is now Hudson. 

John Snow, son of John, born in Woburn, Mass., May 
13, 1688, married Sarah Stevens, February 13, 1693. He 
had children born in Woburn, as follows: Elizabeth, born 
March 18, 1695; died June 24, 1698; Joseph, born May 6, 
1697; Mary, born August 13, 1699. 

He was among the first settlers of this town. 

All the town meetings, with a single exception, until 
the first meeting house was completed, were held at the 
house of Ensign John Snow. The cellar where his house 
is said to have stood, was pointed out to the writer many 
years ago by Mr. Timothy S. Ford, who owned the farm, 
and whose father, Timothy, had owned it before him, and 
whose grandfather, James Ford, a captain in the Revolu- 
tionary army, resided in the immediate neighborhood long 
before that time. This cellar is on the Back road, very 
near the highway, and some distance south from the pres- 
ent house on the Ford farm, now (1912) owned by James 
A. Sanders, and less than half a mile northerly from the 
junction of the Back road with the Lowell road. There is 
another cellar between the Snow cellar and said junction 
which should not be taken for the Snow cellar. The exact 
date of his settlement here is not known. He was assessed 
for 1733 and 1734 only. He was the first town treasurer of 



SETTLERS OF HILLS FARMS 127 

Nottingham. The town records give his death as of March 
"21, 1735. The inscription upon his head stone in the small 
burial ground near his former residence does not quite 
agree with the above date, and gives his age as 68-4-3. 
This is substantially all that is now known about Ensign 
John Snow. 

Lieut. Joseph Snow, the last of the pioneer settlers of 
this town to be located, was assessed from 1733 to 1746. 
He was the son of the preceding John Snow, born in Wo- 
burn, Mass., May 6, 1697. He was among the earliest set- 
tlers. His residence was south of Zaccheus Lovewell's, a 
short distance north of the state line. His house was one 
third of a mile west of the River road, and the cellar, yet 
visible, is in the pasture, south of the old Ferry road, and 
south-east of the late Sylvanus Winn's house, now owned 
by Paul Butler of Lowell. He probably sold this place 
about 1741, to Dr. Ezekiel Chase, the first resident physi- 
cian of this town, who occupied the same farm for many 
years. He later owned the farm on the north side of the 
Bush Hill road at the Chase hill, so called, a short distance 
west of the Haselton road, where the old cellar is visible. 
He died there May 7, 1747, aged 51 years, and was buried 
in the small burial ground before referred to. His widow, 
Bridget Snow, was assessed for the estate until 1761, after 
which she removed, with her younger children, to Ply- 
mouth, N. H., where she died December 3, 1773, aged 73 
years. Joseph Snow was chosen constable for the east 
side of the river, by the town of Dunstable, March 2, 1724. 
He was one of the selectmen of the township of Dunstable 
for 1725. 

The births of Joseph and Bridget Snow's children are 
recorded in Dunstable as follows: Bridget, born July 29, 
1719; Joseph, born March 19, 1721; John, born January 
11, 1723; Henry, born November 17, 1725. 

Besides the above, though their names do not appear 
on the records, were: Sarah, who married James Blod- 
gett; Rebecca, who married Rev. Zebediah Richardson; 



128 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Elizabeth, who married Edward Evans; Mary, who married 
James Harvell. 

These eighteen pioneer settlers of our town, with few 
exceptions, were young men in the full vigor of manhood. 
At the date of the charter of Nottingham, in 1733, the 
youngest of them was Edward Spalding, who was twenty- 
five years old, Ephraim Cummings was twenty-seven; 
Eleazer Cummings, Jr., twenty-nine; Eleazer Cummings, 
William Cummings, Thomas Colburn and Zaccheus Love- 
well were thirty-one; Joseph Winn was thirty -four; Thom- 
as Pollard, thirty-six; Joseph Snow, thirty-seven; Joseph 
Blodgett, forty-three; Henry Hills, forty-five; Ebenezer 
Spalding and Nathaniel Hills, fifty; Ensign John Snow, 
sixty-seven; and the ages of John Taylor and Jabez Davis 
are unknown. The age of Nathan Cross is not known, but 
he was a young man, not much above thirty. 

These early settlers generally had large families of 
children, who intermarried, one family with another, and 
their descendants became very numeicus. Especially is 
this true of the families of Cummings, Hills, Pollard, Blod- 
gett, Winn, Spalding, Cross and Colburn. 

All of which names are still borne by some of our 
most worthy citizens; while very many of the representa- 
tives of these same families, bearing other names, have 
their homes here, altogether forming a large percentage of 
the present population of Hudson. The Snow family also 
became quite numerous, and among the present residents 
of our town, the descendants of Ensign John Snow and 
Lieut. Joseph Snow, by other names are still numerous. 

There are also Davises, representing an ancient family 
of the town, but no connection can be traced between that 
family and Jabez Davis, the Quaker settler here. 




ALDEN HILLS 



CHAPTER XI 

"Hills Row" 

In 1656 Massachusetts granted to William Brenton, a 
fur-trader, and at one time Governor of Connecticut, a 
tract of land which embraced nearly all of the present town 
of Litchfield, and extended into Londonderry and Merri- 
mack. This grant was called by the Indian name Natti- 
cook (meaning "open place of the deer"), or "Brenton's 
Farm." It was included within the boundaries of Dunsta- 
ble, as chartered in 1673, and all of that part lying east of 
the Merrimack River became a part of Nottingham under 
its charter of 1733. 

"Brenton's Farm" was divided among its sixteen orig- 
inal proprietors in 1728, and was settled soon after that 
date. In the first tax list of Nottingham, 1733, we find 
but eight names that were inhabitants of " Brenton's Farm." 

These were Benjamin Adams, Capt. Robert Richard- 
son, Aquila Underwood, Ebenezer Wright, Samuel Moore, 
Edward Linkfield, Thomas Wartels and John Barret. A 
petition was presented to the General Court of Massachu- 
setts, in May, 1734, by Aquila Underwood, in behalf of the 
petitioners for the incorporation of a separate township to 
include the Natticook lands, or "Brenton's Farm." The 
petition was granted July 4, 1734, and a charter issued for 
the incorporation of the town of Litchfield. 

Under this charter the town of Litchfield was bounded 
as follows: 

Beginning at Merrimack River, half a mile south of where Natticook 
south line crosseth said River, running from thence west two miles and a 
half, then turning and running the general course of Merrimack River to 
Sowbeeg (Souhegan) River, making it a straight line, thence running by 
Sowbeeg (Souhegan) River, to Merrimack River again two miles and a half. 

Also, that the bounds dividing between Natticook and Nottingham 
begin at the lower line or south bounds of Nathaniel Hills' lands on 

129 



130 HISTORV OF HUDSON 

Merrimack River, so extending east by his south line to the south eas2 
corner; so on east to Nottingham east line; north two degrees east about 
half a mile, to a pine tree with stones about it standing within sight of 
Heaver brook, marked with the letter F; from thence North North \»est 
by a line of marked trees, lettered with F, about six miles to Merrimack 
River, near Natticook corner; Southerly by the River Merrimack to the 
mouth of the Sowbeeg (Souhegan) River before mentioned. 

Litchfield, as then bounded, extended south on the 
Merrimack River very nearly a mile farther than at pres- 
ent, and about one-half mile south of the Brenton Farm 
line, which is still marked by the line dividing lands of J. 
W. Howard, formerly of George E. Hill, on the south, and 
of John L. Spalding on the north, and where an oak tree 
is standing on the west side of the highway. 

It included the nine hundred acre tract of land that Na- 
thaniel Hills had bought of Jonathan Tyng, leaving all of 
the Joseph Hills farm in Nottingham. This left the town 
of Nottingham about eleven miles in length from north to 
south, and about five miles wide from Dracut line near 
Beaver Brook, on the east, to Merrimack River, which 
formed its western boundary. 

This Tyng land, laid down on an old plan as nine hun- 
dred acres, and probably purchased by Nathaniel Hills for 
that amount, like most of the early measurements of land 
in this vicinity, exceeded in area, and actually contained 
more than one thousand acres. 

As we have seen by the tax list of 1733, the only set- 
tler upon this land, if any, was Nathaniel Hills, who had 
probably removed from the garrison to the place near the 
river, where Hills ferry was established and existed for 
many years. This farm of Nathaniel Hills extended from 
the river, easterly about three-quarters of a mile to land 
now occupied by Dr. Alfred K. Hills. It was bounded 
northerly by Brenton's Farm and southerly by what is now 
the Pearl T. Thomas farm, and contained about 180 acres. 
The farm next south of that just described, also extending 
from the river easterly more than three-quarters of a mile, 
and bounded northerly by Nathaniel Hills' farm, and 



''HILLS ROW" 131 

southerly by the Hills Garrison farm, contained ninety 
acres or more. This farm included the greater part of 
what was later the Sprake place, now owned by Pearl T. 
Thomas. This was probably conveyed by Nathaniel Hills 
to his son Samuel, who occupied it until his death about 
1798. 

Ezekiel Greeley, great-grandfather of Horace Greeley, 
seems to have owned some of this Tyng land next east of 
the two farms last described, as shown by the returns of a 
highway, which with some changes, is now known as the 
Derry road. This was May 12, 1747, and the records say: 

A road viewed and laid out thrte poles wide. Beginning upon Dary 
line near Nathaniel Hills Jrs. From thence running by Thon as Marshes' 
Dwelling house, and so running by John Marshes' house and James Hills' 
and Joseph Pollard's and Ezekiel Hills and Henry Hills, and so iunning 
Between Ezekiel Greeley's House and Barn, thence running to John 
Marshalls land, running on said land to Josiah Duttons, thence to Pine 
tree marked. 

JOHN MARSH, 
JOHN MARSHALL, 
SAMUEL GREELE, Jr. 

Selectmen. 

The site of the Ezekiel Greeley house was pointed out 
to the writer many years ago by Alden Hills, as being lo- 
cated about forty rods south-westerly of the Alden Hills 
house, upon a small knoll, near the highway, and upon the 
west side, where a depression is still visible and marking 
the location. 

Mr. Greeley lived there until 1758, when he removed 
about one and a half miles easterly into what was then 
Londonderry, and the land upon which he had formerly re- 
sided was absorbed by the Henry Hills farm. 

Henry Hills, one of the brothers that built the garri- 
son, and who lived there until about 1739, when he dis- 
posed of the place to Deacon Roger Chase, moved 
easterly upon some of the Tyng land, and what was later 
the east part of Elijah Hills' place. This Elijah Hills was 
the son of James, born March 15, 1738; was grandfather 



132 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

of Alden and great-grandfather of Dr. Alfred K. Hills, the 
present owner of the old homestead of his father, including 
the Ezekiel Greeley land, and also now including the great- 
er part of what was the Ezekiel Hills farm, containing alto- 
gether about 230 acres, all of which was a part of the Na- 
thaniel Hills Tyng land. 

Henry Hills resided there until his death, which oc- 
curred August 20, 1757. Four or five years later the farm 
was conveyed to Elijah Hills. 

Ezekiel Hills, son of Henry, born April 11, 1718, set- 
tled upon the next farm east, where he lived until his de- 
cease, May 14, 1790, and which was later the home of his 
son Thomas, and his grandson Amos Hills. 

Joseph Pollard, brother of Thomas, born in Billerica, 
Mass., May 3, 1702, owned and occupied the next farm 
east, and adjoining Ezekiel Hills' place. His wife Ann 
was the daughter of Nathaniel Hills, born in Newbury, 
Mass., May 5, 1712. He settled upon this farm while it 
was a part of Litchfield, and previous to 1746. The farm 
contained about one hundred acres. He removed to New 
Ipswich about 1770. This farm was later owned by War- 
ren Hills, a brother of Alden, and at present by Justin E. 
Hill, a son of Warren. 

The adjoining farm on the east, also containing about 
one hundred acres, was owned by James Hills, one of the 
three brothers that first built and lived in the garrison, and 
who sold his interest in that property January 11, 1723, to 
Samuel Whiting, and returned to Newbury, Mass. Com- 
ing back from Newbury, with his wife and four small chil- 
dren in 1737, he settled on this farm, a part of which is 
now owned by Charles VJ. Hills, one of his descendants in 
the fifth generation. He lived on this place until his death, 
which we do not find recorded, but his name appears on the 
tax lists until 1769. His son Jeremiah, born in Newbury, 
March 1, 1727, also resided upon the same farm during his 
life. He died April 4, 1810. 

Col. William Hills, son of Jeremiah, born July 14, 
1777, and who died September 3, 1858, was also a life-long 




Mrs. NANCY KIMBALL HILLS 



"HILLS ROW" 133 

occupant of the same farm, and at his decease left it to his 
son, Granville Hill, the father of Charles W., already men- 
tioned. A part of the old farm is at present owned by the 
Enoch Cummings heirs. 

The next adjoining farm east, which contained one 
hundred acres, was conveyed by Nathaniel Hills to his old- 
est son Enoch, born in Newbury, March 16, 1711. It is 
not known that Enoch Hills ever occupied the farm, or re- 
sided in town after his majority. His name does not ap- 
pear upon the tax lists of Nottingham, or of Nottingham 
West. An ancient head stone in the old cemetery at 
South Nashua bears the following inscription in part: 

Mrs. Ruth Hill, wife of Enoch Hill, who died February 7, 1747, aged 
36 yrs. 

Probably this was the wife of Enoch Hills, and if he 
lived here at any time it must have been previous to 1746, 
at the time the town of Litchfield included that part of 
this town. 

In laying out a highway May 12, 1747, the record de- 
scribed it as "running by Thomas Marshes' Dwelling house 
and so running by John Marshes' house and James Hills." 
This John Marsh was John, Jr., and a brother to Thomas. 
After the removal of the Marshes from this farm, probably 
after 1750, it was owned and occupied by Deacon Roger 
Chase until about 1762, when Henry Hills, son of Henry, 
Sen., occupied it until his decease. He was born October 
22, 1719, and died October 21, 1773. His widow Hannah 
continued to occupy the place, with her son William, son 
of the last named Henry, born in Litchfield, March 3, 1754. 
No record of the death of this widow, Hannah Hills, is 
found, but William Hills occupied the place for many 
years — certainly until later than 1804. It is the same 
farm owned for a long time by the late Stephen D. Gree- 
ley, and at present, 1912, by George W. Dooley. 

The northern half of the next farm on the east was 
conveyed by Nathaniel Hills to his son, Nathaniel Hills, Jr., 
born in Newbury, April 28, 1716, and is another of the 



134 HiSTORY OF HUDSON 

Hills farms that has been transmitted from father to sod 
for several generations, and which is now owned by Frank- 
lin A. Hills, a descendant in the fifth generation from Na- 
thaniel, Sen., as follows: Nathaniel 1 , Nathaniel, Jr 2 ., Sam- 
uel 8 , born February 6, 1769, Abijah 4 , born May — , 1806, 
Franklin A. Hills 6 , the present owner. 

Nathaniel Hills, Jr., married Susanna Baldwin of Pel- 
ham, daughter, probably, of John and Sarah Baldwin, 

born March 8, 1733. They had children — Elizabeth, Sim- 
eon, Abijah, Nathaniel, Samuel, born February 6, 1769,. 
Betsey, Sarah, Jane, Rebecca, Aviah, Abigail and James. 
Simeon had a Revolutionary war record, and Abijah was a 
sea-faring man. 

DEED. 
To all People to whom these Presents shall come Greeting. 

Know ye. that I Nathaniel Hills of Litchfield in the County of Mid- 
dlesex within his Majesty's Province of Massachusetts Bay in New Eng- 
and, Yeoman, for the Love and Good-will and natural affection I have 
and do bear unto my well beloved son Nathaniel Hills for his full portion 
out of my Estate. The receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, and my- 
self fully satisfied & contented, Have Given Grained, bargained, Aleined, 
Released, Conveyed, and Confirmed, and by these presents do Freely, 
Clearly and Absolutely, Give, Grant, Bargain, Aleine, Release, Convey 
and Confirm unto him the said Nathaniel Hills his Heirs and Assign* 
for ever, one Moeity or tract of land, lying in Litchfield aforesaid, part 
of my Land I now enjoy — fifty acres of of the Northerly end of the next 
Lot above the Lot that I gave to my son Enoch Hills which fifty Acres 
being divided by a three Rod way a thirt it. where the Path is now, or 

near there about. Bounded as followeth 

Northerly on Natticook and Easterly on my own 1 and and Souther- 
ly on my own Land and Westerly on my son Enoch Hills' Land. Being 
well bounded at every corner by stakes and stones, or maiked trees, — be- 
ing divided by sd three Rod way across it as aforesaid, so thai what I 
give to my aforesaid son Nathaniel with said way shall contain fifty acres 
the one full half of the Northerly end of the fourth Lot of Land from 
Daniel Hills cross Lot that he bought of me the sd Nathaniel Hills. 

To Have and to Hold the before Granted Premises, with the Appur- 
tenances and Privileges unto him my sone Nathaniel Hills his Heirs, Ex- 
ecutors Administrators and Assigns forever, to his and their own 
proper use Benefit and Behoof forever. And I the said Nathaniel 






*' HILLS ROW" 135 

'Hills my self — my Heirs, Executors, Administrators, do Covenant, Prom- 
ise and Grant unto and with the said Nathaniel Hills, his Heirs and As- 
signs forever, That before and until the Ensealing hereof 1 am the True, 
Sole Proper and Lawful Owner and Posessor of the before Granted 
Premises with the Appurtenances. And have in myself good Right, full 
Power and Lawful Authority to Give, Giani, Bargain, Aleine, Release, 
Convey and Confirm the same as aforesaid ; and that Free and Clear, and 
Freely and Clearly Executed Acquitted and Discharged of and from al 
former and other Gifts, Grants, Bargains, Sales, Leases, Mortgages, 
Wills, Intails, Joynrures, Dowries, Thiids, Executions and Incumbrances 
whatsoever. 

And Furthermoie I the said Nathaniel Hills, for myself and Heiis, 
Executors and Administrators, do hereby covenant and engage the before 
Ciranted Premises with the Appurtenances unto my said sone Nathaniel 
Hills, his Heirs and Assigns forever to Warrant, Secure and Defend 
against the Lawful Claims of any Person or Persons whatsoever. 

In Witness whereof I the said Nathaniel Hills have hereunto set my 
Hand seal, this — day of March Annoque Domnio One Thousand Seven 
Hundred and Thirty Eight Nine 

(Signed) NATHANIEL HILLS (seal] 
Signed Sealed and 
delivered in presence of 
Ebenezer Taylor 
David Lawrence. 

Middlesex SS Jan r ye 5th 1739 

The above named Nathaniel Hills appeared & acknowledged this in- 
strument to be his free act and Deed. 

Before me 

JOSEPH BLANCHARD 

Justice of Peace 

Recorded Feb. 20 1802. Vol. 54 Page 512. Hillsborough County 
Records. 

This farm, together with the south half, was in Litchfield 
from 1734 to 1746, and in Londonderry from 1746 to 1778, 
when it became a part of Nottingham West. 

One other farm east of the last mentioned was a part 
of the Tyng land. This place was occupied for many years 
by Charles Center, and a part of it was recently owned by 
Anson A. Osgood. The east line is now different from the 
original east line of the Tyng land, and it is not known how 
many acres the original farm contained, but it is very prob- 
able that it was not much less than one hundred acres. 



136 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

For several generations the settlement on the Derry 
road from the Alden Hills place, northeast, for about two 
miles was known, and is to some extent to the present 
time, as "Hills' Row," and the name was very appropriate. 

Taken in their order was the old Henry Hills farm, 
later owned by Elijah and his descendants; then Ezekiel 
Hills homestead, kept in the family for many years; Joseph 
Pollard's place, whose wife was Ann Hills; the James Hills 
farm, still in the family; the Enoch Hills place, owned out- 
side the family for several years, but purchased by Henry 
Hills, Jr., about 1762, and in the family as late as 1820; the 
home of Nathaniel Hills, Jr., in possession of a descendant 
to-day. 

The Joseph Hills farm, as it was called, and the Na- 
thaniel Hills Tyng land, containing altogether 1600 acres, 
after they had been divided and settled, were known collec- 
tively as "the Hills Farms," which name they retained to 
a very recent date. 

Many portions of these lands were fertile, easy of cul- 
tivation, producing abundant harvests, and have always 
constituted a very important part of the settlements of Not- 
tingham, Nottingham West and Hudson, each in their turn 
as regarding the number of inhabitants, wealth, intelli- 
gence and influence of its citizens. 

The Joseph Hills farms were settled previous to the 
incorporation of Nottingham in 1733. The Nathaniel 
Hills Tyng farms, about ten in number, were principally, 
or all settled between 1733 and 1746. 





ALFRED K. HILLS, M. D. 



CHAPTER XII 

The Boundary Dispute 

Mention has already been made of the dispute over 
the boundary line between the provinces of Massachusetts 
and New Hampshire, and its origin briefly described. The 
Plymouth Council, March 19, 1627-8, granted to Sir Henry 
Roswell and his associates the land between the Charles 
River and the Merrimack and all land "which lye * * * 
within the space of three English miles to the northward 
* * of the Merrimack or to the northward and every part 
thereof." This act was confirmed the following year, by a 
charter given by King Charles I to the Massachusetts 
Company, and the error of this claim does not seem to 
have been discovered until the Gardner survey was made 
in the summer of 1638. Even then, with that stubborn- 
ness peculiar to the spirit of the times, it was not acknowl- 
edged by the Massachusetts colony. 

A second survey was made by the Massachusetts 
court fourteen years after the one mentioned, which re- 
sulted in the Endicott memorial, and the contention be- 
tween the provinces waxed earnestly as the years went by. 
To hold the territory Massachusetts began to grant to 
those who had participated in the Indian wars, and others 
who had claims against the province, townships in the de- 
batable country, not forgetting the three mile strip claimed 
on the east bank of the Merrimack. Tyng Township, 
granted to the party of wood scouts led by Capt. William 
Tyng in a winter expedition against the red men in 1702-3, 
and beginning at the northern limit of Litchfield, extend- 
ing north six miles, was one of these grants. Brenton's 
Farm was another. Old Dunstable, lying on both sides of 
the river, completed the lower section. 

137 



138 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

New Hampshire was not idle in trying to hold what 
she believed to be justly her own. Of course the border 
towns suffered most, not the least of which was the bitter 
enmity it incurred among those who should have been 
friends. The Scotch-Irish of Londonderry had obtained 
their charter of New Hampshire, but trying to hold the 
territory to the Merrimack River on the west, brought them 
into sharp rivalry with the English colonists who had re- 
ceived their grants from Massachusetts. Commissions 
were appointed to settle the dispute, but these hesitated 
and delayed and wrangled over the matter. Demand was 
met by counter demand; one party was looked upon by the 
other as "foreigners," these considered their rivals as "in- 
truders." 

Courts and commissions failing to settle the controver- 
sy, appeals were made to the king by both sides, setting 
forth their grievances in long petitions. Fees were paid 
counsel, and obligations to the courts had to be met, so, to 
say nothing of the vexation and hindrance to colonization, 
great expense and loss of time was sustained. 

Finally, Edmund Ouincy and Richard Partridge were 
appointed Agents by the Massachusetts Assembly "to join 
with Francis Wilks, in the prosecution of their claim be- 
fore the King. New Hampshire intrusted its interests to 
Capt. John Tomlinson, of London, with Mr. Parish as his 
solicitor. 

March 5, 1740, a hearing upon the appeals of both 
provinces, respecting the lines, was secured and the deter- 
mination of this long controversy was made on entirely dif- 
ferent grounds from those previously submitted. Ignoring 
old charters and grants made when the country was unex- 
plored, the new consideration declared: 

That the course of the river, though unknown, was supposed to be 
from west to east, therefore it was deemed equitable that as far as the 
river flowed in that course, the parallel line at three miles distance should 
extend. But, as on the other hand, if by pursuing the course of the river, 
up into the country, it had been found to have a southern bend, it would 
have been inequitable to have contracted the Massachusetts grant ; so on 



THE BOUNDARV DISPUTE 139 

the other hand when it appeared to have a northern bend, it was equally 
inequitable to enlarge it. Therefore it was determined ; that the northern 
boundary of the Province of Massachusetts be, a similar curve line, pur- 
suing the course of Merrimack river, at three miles distance, on the north 
side thereof, beginning at the Atlantic Ocean, and ending at a point due 
north of Pawtucket Falls ; and a straight line drawn from thence due 
west, till it meets with his Majesty's other governments. 

This determination exceeded the utmost expectations of New Hamp- 
shire ; as it gave them a tract of country fourteen miles in breadth, and 
above fifty in length, more than they had ever claimed. It cut off from 
Massachusetts twenty-eight new townships between the Merrimack and 
Connecticut rivers; besides large tracts of vacant land, which lay inter- 
mixed ; and districts from six of their old towns, on the north side of 
Merrimack; and if, as was then supposed, the due west line were to ex- 
tend to twenty miles east of Hudson river, the reputed boundary of New 
York; a vast tract of fertile country, on the western side of the Connecti- 
cut river was annexed to New Hampshire, by which an ample scope was 
given, first for landed speculation, and afterward for cultivation and 
wealth. 

When this determination was known, the politicians of Massachusetts 
were chagrined and enraged. They talked loudly of injustice, and some 
of the more zealous proposed trying the merits of the cause upon the 
words of the charter, before the Judges in Westminster Hall, who it was 
expected would upon their oath reverse the judgment, and tell the King 
that he had mistaken the meaning of the royal charter. 

This would have been indeed a bold stroke. But a more moderate 
and pusillanimous scheme was adopted, which was to send a new agent 
to petition the King, that he would re-annex to their government the 
twenty-eight townships, which had been cut off, and the districts of the 
six towns. 

It was also thought prudent that the whole Province should not open- 
ly appear in the affair; but that petitions should be drawn by the inhabi- 
tants of these towns, and that the agent should be chosen by them. 

Accordingly town meetings were held ; petitions were prepared and 
subscribed; and Thomas Hutchinson was appointed agent, and sent over 
to England, when he formed those connections which afterwards served 
to raise him to the chair of government in his native Province. 

About the same time Governor Belcher procured a pe- 
tition from his six friends, of the Council of New Hamp- 
shire to the King, praying that the whole Province might 
be annexed to the government of Massachusetts. Suc- 
ceeding events proved that the action was taken at an in- 
opportune time, and their petition was promptly rejected. 



140 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Action upon the town petitions was delayed, putting the 
inhabitants to expense and prolonged anxiety over the 
matter. In one respect this was a benefit, as it gave Mr. 
Tomlinson ample time in which to prepare his defense, and 
the Massachusetts representative found himself out- 
matched. Not only was the territory in dispute to remain 
under the jurisdiction of New Hampshire, but, in order to 
escape any further controversy, Governor Belcher was or- 
dered by royal authority to have surveyors appointed from 
both provinces to establish the line. Again Massachusetts 
demurred, but as provision had been for either party to act 
independently of the other, the Assembly of New Hamp- 
shire proceeded to appoint their surveyors, and these were 
endorsed by the governor. George Mitchell surveyed the 
line from the ocean "three miles north of Merrimack River 
to a station north of Pawtucket Falls, in the township of 
Dracut," following the bends in the river. Richard Hazen 
began where his colleague stopped, and continued the west 
line across Connecticut River to the supposed boundary of 
New York. Ten degrees were allowed for the westerly 
variation of the needle. The work was begun in February 
and completed in March, 1741. The following May the 
court confirmed this action of the surveyors, and so after 
over a hundred years of wrangling and disputing the boun- 
dary between the provinces was fixed. The grantees of 
the towns in New Hampshire that suffered by the failure 
of Massachusetts to hold the territory, were given grants 
in Maine or elsewhere, but the recompense only covered a 
small portion of the expense and hardship they had met. 

Among the petitions sent to the King for relief, as per 
order of the court of Massachusetts, the following was 
voted at a town meeting held, in Hudson, November 21, 
1740, this being a fair sample of the others submitted: 

Inasmuch as we are informed that his Majesties court determination 
of the northern boundary of Massachusetts Province, this town is the 
greater part thereof left out of said Province to which they always sup- 
posed themselves to belong, therefore voted that a petition be prepared 



THE BOUNDARY DISPUTE 141 

to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, setting our most distressed circum- 
stances, and praying that we may be united to the said Majesties Prov- 
ince, and that Thomas Hutchinson Esq. be fully impowered to prefer 
such, our petition at the court of Great Brittian, and for us to appear in 
all things touching our petition according to his best discretion. 
Nov. 21, 1740. 

JONATHAN SNOW, 

Town Clerk. 

At a town meeting the following year, November 22, 
1741, it was 

Voted that they would send to the General Court to see if the town 
could get any abatement of their county tax Rates by reason of our being 
cut to Bitts with the Province line. ***** It was also voted to join 
with other towns and send a petition to England to be annexed to Massa- 
chusetts Bay. 

Chose Colonel Thomas Colburn to go to the General Court to get 
the county tax abated. 

The records of the town do not show that another 
town meeting was held until August 9, 1743. 

An Act was passed by the General Court of New 
Hampshire, dated March 18, 1741-2, for taxing the new 
Districts, and to choose town officers to assess and collect 
the taxes. 

Richard Jenness of Rye, George Walton of Newing- 
ton, and Eleazer Stevens of Kingston were appointed to 
call the first meeting of the inhabitants. The following is 
the substance of the report of the committee: 

Province of New Hampshire. 

Portsmouth, 17th May, 1742. 
Wee, the subscribers, being appointed a committee by the Governor, 
Council and Assembly, to call the first meetings in the several Towns 
within the Province, that falls within the lines according to his Majesty's 
determination in Council, in order to their paying a Piovince tax, do de- 
clare that in that part of Salis-bury, Amesbury, Haverhill, Methuen, Dra- 
cut, Dunstable, Litchfield & Nottingham, people were well satisfied that 
they were under no disatisfaction upon any account, but in three or four 
of the towns where the Parrishes were divided, which, if they by an act of 
both Governments, that is the Province of Massachusetts & New Hamp- 
shire they could be enabled to carry on their Parrish affairs, they would 
in General be entirely easy. 



142 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

This we declare to be in truth according to the best of our knowledge 
before His Excellency, Benning Wentworth, Esq. Governor & Command- 
er in Chief of his Majesty's Province of New Hampshire. 

Geo. Walton, 
Eben r Stevens, 
Richard Jenness 
Province of New Hampshire. 

Acct of Travels of the Committee appointed by the Act of the Gov- 
ernment, for viewing the New Districts falling into the Province, lying to 
the northward and eastward of the Boundary Lines between this Prov: 
and Mass" Kay, & and for qualifying ye officers in ye same. 

Apr. 11. 

Wee the Committee opened the meeting att a place calltd Loggin 
Plain at the meeting there between Salisbury and Amesbury, being by in- 
formation about 28 miles distant from Court. 

A meeting was also held at Haverhill, April 2<J, and one 
at Methuen, April 21, 1742. 

Apr. 22 wee proceeded to Nottingham & optned the meeting house 
there, Distance from Methuen, 12 miles from information. 
Voted Capt. Henry Baldwin, Moderator; 
Henry Baldwin clerk. Capt. Hen: Baldwin 
Zacheus Lovell, 
Jno. Snow. 

Selectmen. 
Thomas Gage, Collector. 

Meetings were held in Dunstable April 23; Litchfield 
April 24, and Penny Cook, April 27. 

The record of the meeting, August 9, 1743, was 
headed: "Province of New Hamp: District of Notting- 
ham," as all subsequent town meetings were given until 
1746. 

At a meeting August 24, 1743, "Voted to set up 
warning at the meeting house for District meetings, and 
and at two public houses in said District." 

October 14, 1743, "Fifthly, the District put to vote 
to see whether they would move to the Great General Court 
to be Incorported into a town according to the limits of the 
District, and it passed in the Negative." 

January 3, 1744. One of the articles in the warrant 
was: "To see if the District will by a vote set off part of 



THE BOUNDARY DISPUTE 143 

said District as a separate town as follows, Viz: Begin- 
ning at Merrimack River at Province line; then by said 
line three miles from said River; thence running three 
miles distant from said River to Litchfield line; thence by 
said line to Merrimack River aforesaid." This article "was 
put to vote and passed in the Negative." 

At a meeting held October 8, 1744, an article in the 
warrant was as follows: "To see if said District will set off 
by vote the inhabitants and lands lying on the North End 
of the District of Nottingham from Litchfield line down- 
ward two miles, thence crossing said District to London- 
derry." The article was "dismissed." 

March 10, 1746. 
Province of New Hampshire 

The District of Nottingham being assembled together at a meeting 
this tenth day of March, 1745-6. 

By virtue of a warrant issued out by two of his Majesties Justices of 
the Peace and Quorum ; They passed sundry votes. 

First made choice of Mr. Thomas Gage Moderator; secondly it was 
put to vote to see if the District will signify by a vote that they will be 
incorporated into a Distinct Town, and it passed in the affirmative. (The 
yeas were as follows): John Hamblet, John Huey, Joseph Caldwell, Eph- 
raim Cummings, Joseph Wright, James Gibson, John Mitchell, Samuel 
Jewett, Benjamin Frost, Thomas Burns, Thomas Richardson, Hesekiah 
Hamblet, Capt. Henry Baldwin, Phineas Spaulding, Hugh Richardson, 
Daniel Merrill, Benjamin Tyng, Abel Merrill, Robert Nevens, Joseph 
Hamblet, Daniel Douglass, Samuel Butler, Thomas Gage, Josiah Ham- 
blet, John Baldwin, Onesephorus Marsh, Jacob Butler, Ebenezer Dakin, 
Joseph Gould, John Butler, James Wason, Joseph Caldwell, Jr. In the 
affirmative 32. 

Nays: James Barrett, Thomas Pollard, Robert Glover, Joseph Blodg- 
ett, Eleazer Cummings, Lieut. Joseph Winn, John Marshall, Jeremiah 
Blodgett, Jonathan Hardy, Dr. Ezekiel Chase, Samuel Greeley, Jr., Lieut. 
Joseph Snow, John Marsh, George Burns, Ensign William Cummings, 
Samuel Burbank, Samuel Greeley, Capt. Thomas Colburn, Joseph Winn, 
Jr., John Marshall, Jr., Samuel Huston. In the Negative 21. 

Thereby it was put to vote to see if the District will split the town 
partly north and south and the vote passed in the Negative. 

That article in the warrant to set off Hills farms was dismissed by a 
vote. 

The District chose Mr. Thomas Gage, Mr. Ephraim Cummings and 
Mr. John Butler a committee to treat with the courts committee and rep- 
resent the circumstances of the District to them. 



144 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

A large majority of those voting yea were residents of 
the east part of the District, while all those who voted nay, 
were residents of that pait that became Nottingham West, 
and nearly all the leading citizens of the west part of the 
District appear to have been opposed to the incorporation, 
as was voted for at that meeting. 

As has been before stated in this History, Nottingham 
included the western part of Pelham. It was bounded eas- 
terly and southerly by Dracut according to the lines of old 
Dunstable as surveyed by Jonathan Danforth, May, 1674. 

Mr. Danforth states in his report, as given in Dunsta- 
ble Records: 

On the East side Merrimack it begins at a great stone which was 
supposed to be near the North East comer of Mr. Brenton's land; and 
from thence it runs Sou. southeast six miles to a pine tree marked: F: 
standing within sight of Beaver Brook; thence it runs two degrees West 
of South four miles and a quarter which reached to the south side of 
Henry Kimble's farm at Jeremie's Hill; thence from ye southeast angell 
of said farm it runs two degrees and a quarter westward of the south near 
to the Head of Long Pond which lieth at ye head of Edward Colburn's 
farm." "And thus it is bounded by ye said pond and the head of said Col- 
burn's farm ; taking in captain Scarlett's farm so as to close again; all of 
which is sufficiently bounded and described 

Nearly fifty years later these bounds were renewed, as 
the following copied from the Dunstable Records will 
show: 

December in ye year 1723 
Renewing the bounds between Dunstable and Dracut by order of the 
Selectmen of each town. "Beginning at the pine tree on the North side 
of Beaver Brook being marked and lettered F. it being fallen down we 
have laid stones about it. "From thence running Southward by the old 
marked trees, many of them lettered with D.D. until we came near to a 
place called Stone dam, then we not finding the old bounds then we 
agreed both parties to make a pine which stands on the east side of Bea- 
ver Brook four rods from said Dam, which trees is lettered D.D. and 
stones by it, which said tree and stones, both parties agreed to be a 
bound between said towns-from said corner tree running southward to a 
pine tree marked and lettered D.D. So running to a pine tree marked 
and stones about it near to a pine tree which is called the South East an- 
gle of Henry Kimball's farm, and from said pine tree we renewed the old 



THE BOUNDARY DISPUTE 145 

b ounds to Long Pond, thence running by the pond part of the way to an 
oak tree, thence the said bound being lost both committees agreed upon 
a line of marked trees to Tray Rock to be the bounds between said towns* 
which trees are lettered with D.D. and then we renewed the old bounds 
to Merrimack River. This is our mutual agreement, that the said lines 
shall stand good forever and it is agreed that the bounds which we men- 
tioned shall be entered in Dunstable and Dracut Town Books. 

Joseph Blanchard. 

his 
Joseph X Butterfield, being the 
mark 
Major part of the Committee of the town of Dunstable. 

Thomas Varnum.' 
Joseph Varnum. 

Samuel Colburn, being the whole 
of the committee for Dracut. 

SAMUEL DANFORTH. 

Surveyor. 

The ancient "pine tree marked F, standing within 
sight of Beaver Brook," mentioned by Jonathan Danforth 
in his survey of Dunstable in May, 1674, later became the 
north-west corner of Dracut, the north-east corner of Not- 
tingham and the south-east corner of Litchfield, as these 
towns were chartered by Massachusetts, notwithstanding 
that the south line of Londonderry as chartered by New 
Hampshire was about two miles south of the aforesaid an- 
cient boundary pine. 

This corner pine had fallen down in 1723, and its exact 
location is unknown at the present time, but approximately 
it was about one-half mile north-easterly from Lawrence 
Corner, and a short distance north of the point where the 
Worcester Division of the Boston and Maine Railroad 
crosses Beaver Brook, and on the north-west side of said 
brook. 

This old pine was the point at which the joint commit- 
tee started to renew the bounds between Nottingham and 
Dracut. From thence they run southward on the old 
Dunstable line "by the old marked trees, many of them 
lettered D.D. (Dunstable, Dracut), until we came near to a 
place called Stone dam, then we not finding the old bounds, 



146 HISTORV OF HUDSON 

then we agreed both parties to make a pine which stands 
on the east side of Beaver Brook, four rods from said Dam, 
which tree is lettered D.D. and stones by it, which tree 
and stones, both parties agreed to be a bound between said 
towns." This "Stone Dam" was at North Pelham, where 
the line was about four rods east of Beaver Brook. 

From thence they followed the old line southward to 
a "pine tree marked and stones about it near to a pine 
tree which is called the South-east angle of Henry Kim- 
ball's farm." This point, which was an angle in the east 
line of old Dunstable, was probably about one mile north- 
westerly of Pelham Center. From that point they "re- 
newed the old bounds to Long Pond." This point was a 
little less than one mile east of the present corner between 
Hudson and Pelham on the State line. 

Thence they ran by the pond to an oak tree on the 
west side of the pond. "Thence the said bound being lost 
both committees agreed upon a line of marked trees to 
Tray Rock." Tray Rock, still one of the bounds between 
Dracut and Tyngsborough, is a large rock, very near the 
highway, and on the east side at Lakeview, and a little 
southerly of the cottage of the late August Fells. From 
there they "renewed the old Bounds to Merrimack River." 

The present line between the towns of Dracut and 
Tyngsborough is at the mouth of Scarlet Brook, which is 
about three-fourths of a mile east of the south end of Tyng's 
Island. The line at that point is probably substantially at 
the same point where it was in 1723. 

These lines and bounds, as run and renewed by the 
committees of Dunstable and Dracut in 1723, became the 
dividing lines between Nottingham and Dracut in 1733 and 
remained as such, until the Province line was established, 
in 1741. 






CHAPTER XIII 

"Londonderry Claim" 

Mention has been made of lands, now forming the 
north-easterly corner of the town of Hudson, which were 
annexed to Nottingham West from Londonderry in 1778. 
This section contained about 4,600 acres, and with adjoin- 
ing lands was known as the "Londonderry Claim." This 
territory was long in controversy between the inhabitants 
of that town, who claimed it under their charter from New 
Hampshire, while the settlers of Nottingham and Litch- 
field sought to hold it under the charter of Dunstable ob- 
tained from Massachusetts in 1673. Subsequent to the 
settlement of the Province line in 1741, and prior to the 
granting of the charters of Nottingham West in 1746, and 
of Litchfield in 1749, the occupants of these disputed lands 
were greatly annoyed by the levying of taxes by rival au- 
thorities, which they were compelled, in some cases, to pay. 

The spirit of the situation is illustrated in the follow- 
ing petition : 

To His Excellency Benning Wentworth Esqr Governor &c. the Hon'b 
His Majesty's Council and Assembly in Gen'U Court Convened at Ports- 
mouth New Hampshire April 1746. 

The Petition of us the subscribers Inhabitants of the tract of land 
formerly in town of Dunstable lately incorporated into a District called 
Litchfield & in that part of S'd District which Interferes with Londonderry 
bounds According to the late running per Mr. Walter Bryant. That yr 
Pertitioners settled under ye Grants of Massachusetts Bay, And have 
continued to pay Rates to Litchfield by whom their poles and Estates was 
with Litchfield Envoice Returned to this Hon'b Court, but so it is that 
this Last year notwithstanding they were Rated as usual to Litchfield And 
there payed their full proportion to town Minister And Province Taxes 
yet they were Rated in Londonderry and by their Constable Distrained 
for the same & have paid as Per Rec. which your Petitioners Humbly Ap- 
prehended a great Hardship and Know of no Relief unless your Excellen- 
cy & Hon'rs should see meet to Relieve us. 

147 



148 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Therefore your Petitioners Humbly pray You to Consider the prem- 
ises & direct that One of the S'd Towns Return the rates Reed, as afore- 
said or Otherwise relieve us as may seem meet & ye Pet'rs as in Duty 
Bound shall ever pray &c. 

(Signed) Ebenezer Spalding Stephen Spalding 
William butterfield larned Comins 

Then follow copies of receipts of payment of taxes in 
both Litchfield and Londonderry in 1745, all signed by the 
constables of the two towns. 

Leonard Cummings 5 (Samuel 4 , John 8 , John 2 , Isaac 1 ), 
was assessed in Nottingham in 1735-6-7 and 1740; in Litch- 
field 1741 to 1745 inclusive. He was a "joyner" by trade 
and a yeoman. In 1742 he purchased of James Perham of 
Nottingham forty acres of land in that part of Litchfield 
that was in dispute, and which is now in the north-east 
part of Hudson. He lived there until his death in Octo- 
ber, 1758. January 25, 1780, the heirs of Leonard Cum- 
mings conveyed to Ebenezer Tarbox and Henry Tarbox, 
then in Nottingham West, 104 acres of land, which was 
undoubtedly the Cummings farm. 

The cellar of the Tarbox house may still be seen a 
short distance south of the Londonderry town line, some 
distance west of the Derry road, and is on land formerly 
belonging to the Hudson town farm. At the present time 
this land forms the westerly part of the farm of Henry 
Morey, it being the first farm south of the Londonderry 
line on the Derry road. 

A deed covering this property, situated near the south- 
east corner of the Curtis farm, so called, describes the 
boundaries as 

Beginning at a pine tree in the easterly line of said farm from thence 

running N. 79° E. by land of Major Coffin- hundred rods to a heap 

of stones the corner of said Curtises lot, thence the line runs N. 20° E 43 
rods by common lands to a pine marked, from thence N. 5° E. by com- 
mon land 28 rods to a pine thence N. 10° W. 80 rods to a heap of stones, 
from thence S. 79° W. 120 rods to a heap of stones in the line of Brin- 
ton's farm, from thence southerly by the said farm line to the pine tree 
the first mentioned bound. 



"LONDONDERRY CLAIM" 149 

A large majority of the inhabitants of the lands in 
controversy were formerly of Dunstable, Nottingham or 
Litchfield, and were greatly disappointed by the termina- 
tion of the boundary dispute between the two Provinces. 
Some of these were so intensely dissatisfied that some 
years later, in June, 1754, they petitioned to Governor 
Wentworth to be taxed in Nottingham West. This oppo- 
sition rose largely from the inconvenience caused them in 
attending divine worship. The meeting house, the com- 
plaint goes on to say, in Londonderry was nine miles dis- 
tant, while they were very conveniently situated to attend 
their own church, which had been built when they had sup- 
posed they belonged in Nottingham West, and ''that we 
may be so far sett off and annexed to Nottingham West 
as to be taxed with them to the Province charges."* This 
petition was signed by the following persons : 

Ebenezer Spalding William Butterfield 

Noah Kidder Isaac Page 

Ezekiel Page Benjamin Melvin 

Joseph Kidder Leonard Cummings 

James Barret Richard Marshall 

Stephen Spalding Moses Barret 

George Burroughs Joseph Kidder 

Reuben Spalding Ezekiel Chase 

John Kidder Moses Lowell 

George Burroughs, Jr. Thomas Mash (?) 
Nathaniel Hills John Marshall, Jr. 

William Hills David Lawrence 

Mellen Hills (?) Samson Kidder 

Stephen Lowell 
A counter petition was presented by the selectmen of 
Londonderry, and the request of the above named citizens 
was not answered. Still the matter continued to be agi- 
tated, and nearly fourteen years later, at the annual town 
meeting held March 4, 1768, "It was also put to vote to 



New Hampshire Town Papers, Vol. II, Page 511. 



150 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

see if the Town would hear and answer the request of a 
number of the Inhabitants of Londonderry Claim to be an- 
nexed to this Town."* 

While this article received a favorable consideration at 
home, it failed to accomplish its purpose, and the matter 
seems to have rested for ten years, when the courts of New 
Hampshire were again appealed to for relief, by the follow- 
ing petition to be annexed to Nottingham West: 

To the Honorable Council and Assembly of the State of New Hamp- 
shire, convened on the Eleventh day of Feb'y Inst, at Exeter within and 
for said State. 

The petition of us the subscribers being Inhabitants of the south- 
westerly part of Londonderry, Humbly shews that we your petitioners live 
very remote from that part of Londonderry whtre all Business of a public 
nature is transacted, nor is it but very seldom that we can hear of the pub- 
lic meetings of said Town, and should we hear ot such meetings the dis- 
tance is so far that but very few of us could Attend at all, & those who 
do, must do it at considerable expense having eight or ten miles to Travel 
for that purpose. 

That it very often happens, that when any material Business is to be 
transacted meetings are held without our knowledge, by which we lose 
the privilege enjoyed by Others. 

And as our Situation is much Nearer to the middle of Nottingham 
West it would be greatly for our Interest to be Annexed to that town, 
which we think will not prejudice Londonderry, as we pay no part towards 
supporting the Gospel in that town, but do it in the town of Nottingham 
West where we have helped to build a Meeting House and settle A Min- 
ister, and the chief of Other Town Charges will diminish in proportion to 
the deduction made in consequence hereof. 

Your petitioners therefore would most humbly pray that your Hon- 
ours, will take the premises into consideration and give us leave to bring 
in a bill to Annex the south-westerly part of Londonderry as described by 
a map of the same to be shown the day of hearing, to the town of Not 
tingham West, agreeable to a Vote of the said town of Nottingham West 
for that purpose, or otherwise as your Honours in your Wisdom shall see 
meet. 

And we your petitioners as in Duty Bound shall ever pray. 

Feb. 3d 1778. 

Levi Andrews Isaac Page Hugh Smith 

John Smith Philip Marshall William McAdams 



* Hudson Town Records. 



"LONDONDERRY CLAIM" 151 

Josiah Burroughs William Graham Thomas Smith 

Ebenezer Tarbox Moses Barret Joseph Hobbs 

Simeon Robinson W. Eleanor Graham David Lawrence 

John Marshall Ezekiel Grele Richard Marshall 

Simeon Barret Joseph Steele Sampson Kidder 

James Barret David Peabody Benjamin Kidder 

William Hood George Burrows. 

***** 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, 
In the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and seventy eight 

An act to annex divers inhabitants of the southerly part of London- 
derry to, and incorporate them with the Town of Nottingham West. 

Whereas Moses Barret, Ezekiel Grele, David Peabody, George Bur- 
rows, David Lawrence, Sampson Kidder, Richard Marshall, Benjamin 
Kidder, Hugh Smith, William McAdams, Joseph Hobbs, Thomas Smith, 
Levi Andrews, John Smith, Josiah Burrows, Ebenezer Tarbox, Simeon 
Robinson, Simeon Barret, John Marshall, James Barret, William Hood, 
Eleanor Graham, Joseph Steele, Isaac Page, Philip Marshall, and William 
Graham have petitioned the General Assembly for said State setting forth 
that they live very remote from that part of Londonderry where all the 
business of a public nature was transacted, that it was seldom that they 
could hear of the public meetings, and when they did the distance was so 
great and the expense so very considerable, few could attend. 

Whereby they were deprived of the priviledges others of the Inhabi- 
tants of Londonderry enjoyed; that their situation was much nearer to 
the Town of Nottingham West, and that it would be greatly for their in- 
terests to be annexed to that Town which they prayed might be granted 
them the prayer of which petition upon full hearing of the parties thereon 
appearing reasonable. 

Therefore be it, and it is hereby enacted by the council and House of 
Representatives in General Assembly convened ; That the land contained 
within the following bounds, Viz : 

Beginning in the South boundary of Londonderry, at the North East 
corner of Nottingham West, Thence running North 5 degrees East, fre- 
quently crossing Beaver Brook, four hundred and twenty four rods to a 
large pine tree marked standing by said Brook. Thence North twenty 
degrees west seven hundred forty rods to a large Black Oak tree marked 
standing about 4 rods East of Simeon Robinson's House. 

Thence North Eighty degrees west six hundred rods to the East side 
line of Litchfield, to a Poplar tree marked standing in the edge of Fine 
meadow, and including the houses and lands belonging to William Gra- 
ham, William Steele, William McAdams, Simeon Robinson, and Ebene- 
zer Tarbox, lying to the Eastward and Northward of said tract, according 



152 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

to the plan thereof exhibited with said petition, and including any land?- 
lying contiguous to said North and East Bounds belonging to Samuel 
Anderson and Thomas Boyd lying within the same. 

Then from said Poplar tree South in the hast Bounds of Litchfield 
and Nottingham West about two miles and three quarters to a comer of 
Nottingham West. Thence East, South East in the South Bounds of 
Londonderry and the North Bounds of Nottingham West, two miles and 
three quarters of a mile to the place began at. 

Which lands as before described with the buildings thereon, and ap- 
purtenances thereof, (Except as before Excepted) shall be annexed to 
and considered as part of the Town of Nottingham West. 

And all the inhabitants living upon and within the above mentioned 
bounds (except as before excepted) their Heirs and Successots shall be 
incorporated with, and belong to the Town of Nottingham West, and 
shall be entitled to all Town priviledges as other inhabitants of said Not- 
tingham West are. 

Provided nevertheless that the inhabitants and lands hereby dis- 
annexed from Londonderry and annexed to said Nottingham West, shall 
stand chargeable with their part of the State tax until a new proportion 
of Slate tax is made, (as well as the tax that is or shall be assessed for 
the present pioportion of continental soldiers,) and with all taxes made or 
charges incurred before the passing theieof, by said Town of London- 
derry, as tho this act had not been made, anything herein to the contrary 
notwithstanding. 

And be it further enacted, that the inhabitants and lands so annexed 
to the Town of Nottingham West, shall be deemed and reputed to lie and 
be within the County of Hillsborough in the State aforesaid, and not 
within the County of Rockingham, as heretofore reputed. And that the 
persons so joined to said Nottingham West, their Heirs and Successors 
shall belong to the same regiment to which other inhabitants of said Not- 
tingham West do or shall belong, and that nothing in this Act be taken 
or construed to effect property but only to alter the lines of jurisdiction. 

State of New Hampshire. 

In the House of Representatives, February ye 28th 1778. 
The foregoing Bill having been read a third time, Voted that the 
same pass to be enacted. 

Sent up for concurrence. 

JOHN DUDLEY, Speaker 

Pr. Tmp r . 

In Council March 6. 1778:— 

This Bill read a third time & voted that it be enacted. 

JOSIAH BARTLETT 

President, P. T. 




JOHN A. ROBINSON 






"LONDONDERRY CLAIM" 153 

A true Copy Examined by 

E. THOMPSON, 

Secry. 

A True Entry pr. 

SAMUEL GREELE, 

Town Clerk* 

By the annexation of "Londonderry Claim," March, 
1778, the area of the Township of Nottingham West was in- 
creased by about four thousand six hundred and twenty- 
seven acres, or more than seven square miles, exclusive of 
those lands belonging to the farms of certain persons living 
near the boundary line, and which were in part east of such 
boundary, but which were wholly included within the town 
of Nottingham West, as provided by the law of annexation. 

The corner described as "a large Pine tree marked, 
standing by said brook" (Beaver Brook), was undoubtedly 
at or very near the angle in the east line of Dunstable as 
surveyed by Jonathan Danforth in May, 1674, and which he 
described as "a pine tree marked :F: standing within sight 
of Beaver Brook." It had been the north-west corner of 
Dracut, previous to the settlement of the Province line in 
1741, as claimed and conceded by the committees appointed 
to renew the bounds between Dunstable and Dracut, De- 
cember, 1723, which has been mentioned. 

The line running from this ancient corner, "North 
twenty degrees west, seven hundred forty rods to a large 
Black Oak tree standing about 4 rods East of Simeon Rob- 
inson's House," was probably intended to follow the east 
line of old Dunstable as given by Jonathan Danforth in 
1674, which reversed would be N. 22 1-2 degrees W. 

The number of families was increased by twenty-seven 
at least, and the number of tax payers by thirty-nine. The 
names of these tax payers, as they are found upon the list 
of June 13, 1778, are as follows: 



Hudson Town Records. 



154 



HISTORY OF HUDSON* 



Andrews, Levi 
Barrett, James 
Barrett, Moses 
Burroughs, Benjamin 
Burroughs, George 
Burroughs, Josiah 
Burroughs, Josiah, Jr. 
Burroughs, William 
Graham, Wid Eleanor 
Greele, Capt. Ezekiel 
Hobbs, Joseph 
Hood, William 
Hills, Nathaniel 
Kidder, Lt. Benjamin 
Kidder, Elder Sampson 
Lawrence, David 
Lawrence, David, Jr. 
Marshall, John 
Marshal], Philip 



Marshall, Samuel 
McAdams, Robert 
McAdams, William 
Ordway, Nehemiah 
Page, Ezekiel 
Page, Isaac 
Peabody, Capt. David 
Porter, Daniel 
Robinson, Douglas 
Robinson, John 
Robinson, Peter 
Robinson, Peter, Jr. 
Robinson, Simeon 
Richey, James 
Steele, Joseph 
Steele, William 
Smith, Daniel 
Tarbox, Lt. Ebenezer 
Tarbox, Henry 



Marshall, Richard 

With the exception of two minor changes made at the 
north-east part of the town, between Hudson and London- 
derry, the present boundaries of Hudson remain the same 
as were those of Nottingham West, subsequent to the an- 
nexation of "Londonderry Claim," in 1778. The first of 
these was made by an act of the legislature passed June 
27, 1857, which established the south-east corner of Lon- 
donderry, and the most easterly corner of Hudson, about 
one hundred and twelve rods farther northerly on Beaver 
Brook, from the old "Dracut Corner," which was assumed 
as a bound between the two towns in 1778. The line run- 
ning from the new corner north 27° 12 1 west, six hundred 
and ninety rods to the original corner, established in 1778, 
about four rods east of "Simeon Robinson's House," and 
from that to the corner at Litchfield line as before. 

This change in the boundary line between London- 
derry and Hudson, was effected principally for the purpose 



"LONDONDERRY CLAIM" 155 

of establishing a definite and permanent boundary between 
the two towns. 

By the act of 1857, all lands adjoining the boundary 
lines on the east and north became a part of Londonderry; 
and all lands adjoining the same lines on the west and 
south became a part of Hudson. There were about two 
hundred acres in the tract between the two lines, the 
greater part made up of those farms and lands lying east 
and north of the boundary lines of 1778, but which were 
made a part of Nottingham West by the act of annexation 
of that year. In consequence of this situation Hudson ac- 
quired very little land from Londonderry by the last 
change of boundaries. 

By the act of annexation, 1778, "Beginning in the south 
boundary of Londonderry, at the North East corner of 
Nottingham West, Thence running North 5 degrees East, 
frequently crossing Beaver Brook, 424 rods to a large pine 
tree marked, standing by said Brook," the line between 
Windham and Nottingham West was made straight, each 
town including a small amount of land upon opposite sides 
of the brook. This remained unchanged until July 2, 1862, 
when the legislature established the line between Hudson 
and Windham, in the centre of Beaver Brook, from the 
north-west corner of Pelham, about 320 rods to the south- 
east corner of Londonderry, as established in 1857. 

While it is impossible to ascertain at this time the 
exact increase in the population of Nottingham West by 
the annexation of the "Londonderry Claim," it has been 
shown from the records that as many as thirty-nine tax- 
payers were added to the list and at least twenty-seven 
families. 

It would seem to be within the bounds of reason to 
estimate the average number in the families, at that time 
when larger families than to-day was the rule, at not less 
than seven persons each. At this estimation the addition 
would be not less than two hundred. The population of 
the town at different periods has been as follows: 



156 history of hudson 

Population 

In 1767, a provincial census made the number of in- 
habitants 583 whites, with two slaves. 

In 1773, a census taken by the order of Governor John 
Wentworth, in October, gave the following result: 
Nottingham West. 

Men, unmarried, from 16 to 60, 41 

Men, married, from 16 to 60, 88 

Boys, 16 and under, 150 

Men, 60 and upwards, 14 

Females, unmarried, 179 

Females, married, 100 

Widows, 16 

Male slaves, 2 

Female slaves, 2 

Total, 592 

In September, 1775, another census was taken by or- 
der of the New Hampshire Convention, when the town was 
credited with a population of 649. Men in the army, 22; 
slaves, 4; an increase of 54 persons in less than two years. 
In 1786 another census was taken "In obedience to 
Resolve of the General Court of ye March 3d 1786 for 
numbering ye inhabitants, we have Numbered ye Town of 
Nottingham West and find 1010 souls. 

Asa Davis 

John Haselton, Jr. 

Isaac Merrill 

£electnie?i." 

It appears by the two last censuses, September, 1775, 
March, 1786, a period of ten and one-half years, which in- 
cluded the time of the Revolutionary war, the population 
increased 361. If 200 of this number was due to annexa- 
tion of the "Londonderry Claim" to Nottingham West, 
the excess of births above deaths and by immigration was 
161, or an average of 15% persons annually. 



"LONDONDERRY CLAIM " 157 

According to the successive censuses taken by the 
United States government since 1790, the population at 
the end of each decade has been : 

1790, 1064, increase since 1786, 4 years 54 

1800, 1267, increase in ten years 203 

1810, 1376 " " " " 109 

1820, 1227, decrease " " " 149 

1830, 1282, increase " " " 55 

1840, 1144, decrease " " " 138 

1850, 1312, increase " " " 168 

1860, 1222, decrease " " " 90 

1870, 1066, « " " " 156 

1880, 1045, " " " " 21 

1890, 1092, increase " " " 47 

1900, 1261, " " " « 169 

1910, 1344, « " « " 83 

It will be seen, that, provided the population of the 

town in 1800 was twelve hundred and sixty-seven, and that 

in 1900, it was twelve hundred and sixty-one, there was a 

net decrease of six within the century. 

The largest number as shown at any decade was in 
1810, when the number of inhabitants reached thirteen 
hundred and seventy-six, or one hundred and fifteen more 
than in 1900, which shows a net decrease of about eight 
and one-third per cent within ninety years. 

During tne fifty years from 1850 to 1900, there was a 
large decrease in the number of children, with an increase 
of the number of adults. 

The number of rateable polls as enumerated in 1850 was 
269, while in 1900 they had increased to 331, or 23% per 
cent; and in 1905 the number was 373, an increase from 
1850 of 104, or about 39 per cent in 55 years — about 15% 
per cent of which has been made within the last five years, 
which would tend to show quite a rapid increase in the 
population of the town at the present time. 



158 history of hudson 

Adoption of New Name 

At the annual town meeting at the North Meeting 
house, March 9, 1830, the warrant contained the following 
article: "To see if the town will request the selectmen in 
behalf of the town to petition the next General Court to 
alter the name of this town. "If so to see if the town will 
vote that the same be called by the name of Auburn, if not 
to designate some other name by which it shall be called." 

Under the article it was "voted to request the select- 
men to petition the legislature to alter the name of the 
town. "Chose a committee consisting of Col. Joseph 
Greeley, Dea. Moses Greeley, Col. William Hills, Dea. 
Asa Blodgett and James Tenney to report a name. "Voted 
to adjourn this meeting to next Saturday at 10 o'clock in 
the forenoon. * * * * "Met according to adjournment. 
* * * "Voted to accept the report of the committee chosen 
to desiginate a name by which to call the town, which 
name was that of Hudson. 

"Reuben Greeley, 

Town Clerk." 

July 1, 1830, Thomas B. Wason, Representative, an 
act was passed by the state legislature in answer to the re- 
quest of the town to change the name from Nottingham 
West, which it had borne for eighty-four years, to Hudson. 



CHAPTER XIV 



Nottingham West and Families 

In answer to the request of a majority of the inhabitants 
of Nottingham as expressed by vote at the District Meet- 
ing, March 10, 1746, the General Court of New Hampshire, 
July 5, 1746, incorporated the town of Nottingham West, 
there being already a Nottingham in the east part of the 
State. 

The following is copied from the original charter: 
Province of 
Newhampshire. 

George the Second by the Grace of 

i province ) God of Great Brittain France and 

< seal of > Ireland King Defender of the Faith. 

{ new Hampshire ) To all whom these Presents Shall 

come Greeting. 

Whereas Sundry of our Loyal Subjects Inhabitants of 
a Tract of Land within the Ancient Boundaries of a Town 
called Old Dunstable in our Province of Newhampshire on 
the easterly side of Merrymack River hereinafter described. 

Have Humbly Petitioned and Requested of us That 
they may be erected and Incorporated into a Township and 
Infranchised with the same powers Authorities and Prive- 
leges which other Towns within our said Province by Law 
have & Enjoy. And it appears to us to be conducive to 
the General Good of our Said Province, as well as of the 
Said Inhabitants in particular, by maintaining good Order 
and Incouraging the Culture of the Land, That the Same 
should be done. 

Know Yee Therefore, That We of our Especial Grace 
certain Knowledge, and for the Encouraging and promot- 
ing the Good Purposes and Ends aforesaid, By and with 
the Advice of our Trusty and well beloved Benning Went- 
worth Esqr., our Governor and Commander-in-chief, and 
our Council for Said Province, have Erected Incorporated 
and Ordained, and by these Presents for us our Heirs and 
Successors, Do will and Ordain That the Inhabitants of 
159 



160 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

the Tract of Land aforesaid (Bounded as follows Viz.) Be- 
ginning at the River Merrymack on the East Side thereof 
where the line that parts the Province of Massachusetts 
Bay and New hampshire crosses the Said River and runs 
from Said River East ten Degrees South by the Needle 
two Miles and Eighty Rods. Then North twenty Degrees 
East five Miles and Eighty Rods to Londonderry South 
Side Line. Then by said Londonderry Line West North 
West to the South West Corner of Londonderry Town- 
ship, then North on Londonderry West Side Line one 
Mile & Eighty Rods, then West by the Needle to Mer- 
rymack River, then on Said River Southerly to the place 
begun at, and that Shall the Same, be and by these Pres- 
ents Are declared and Ordained to be a Town Corporate, 
and are hereby Erected and Incorporated into a Body Poli- 
tic and a Corporation to have Continuance for Ever by 
the name of Nottingham West, with all the Powers and 
Authorities, Priveleges, and Imunities and Franchises 
which other Towns within Said Province or any of them by 
Law Have and Enjoy. 

To Have and to Hold the Said Powers and Author- 
ities, Imunities and Francheses to them the Said Inhabi- 
tants and their Successors for Ever. Always Reserving 
to us our Heirs and Successors all White Pine Trees Grow- 
ing and being, and that shall hereafter grow and be on the 
Said Tract of Land for the use of our Royal Navy. 

Reserving also the Power of Dividing the Said Town 
to us our Heirs and Successors when it shall be thought 
Necessary or Convenient for the Benefit of the Inhabitants 
thereof. And as the Several Towns within our Said Prov- 
ince are by Laws thereof Enabled and Authorized to As- 
semble, and by the Majority of Votes to choose all Such 
Officers as are mentioned in the Said Laws, we do by these 
Presents Nominate and appoint Zaccheus Lovewell, Gen 1 , 
to call the first Meeting of Said Inhabitants to be held 
within Said Town at any time within thirty Days from the 
Date hereof, giving legal Notice of the Time and place and 
design of holding Such Meeting. 

In Testimony whereof we have Caused the Seal of 
our Said Province to be hereunto affixed. 

Witness Benning Wentworth, Esq'., our Governor and 
Commander in chief of our Said Province the fifth day of 
July in the Year of our Lord Christ one thousand Seven 



NOTTINGHAM WEST AND FAMILIES 161 

hundred and forty-Six, and in the Twentieth year of our 
Reign. 

B WENTWORTH 

With His Excelencies Command 

With advice of Council. 

Theodore Atkinson, Secretary. 

Entered & Recorded According to the Original, This 
16th Day of September, 1746. 

P r Theodore Atkinson, Beefy 

Pa 35 & 36. 

The boundaries as described in the charter excluded 
all of that part of Pelham— nearly one-third — formerly in- 
cluded in the district of Nottingham, with about twenty 
families by the name of Baldwin, Butler, Douglas, Gage, 
Gibson, Hamblet, Nevins, Richardson and Spalding; and 
included a part of the south side of Litchfield as previously 
bounded, about one mile wide on the Merrimack, but some- 
what less at the east end, with the families of Nathaniel 
Hills, Henry Hills, Nathaniel Hills, Jr., Henry Hills, Jr., 
James Hills, Ezekiel Hills, Samuel Hills, Thomas Marsh, 
John Marsh, Jr., Joseph Pollard, William Taylor, and some 
other inhabitants. 

In a petition to the Governor and Council, by Nathan 
Kendall, in behalf of the inhabitants of Litchfield, August 
22, 1746, it is represented, 

That by some mistake or misrepresentation, the boundaries given in 
said charter are different from what the intention was, as they conceive, 
for part of that which was called Litchfield on the easterly side of said 
river is, in fact, taken into Nottingham and incorporated as parcel of that 
town, and what is left of Litchfield is much too small for a town and can't 
possibly subsist as such, and there is no place to which it can be joined, 
nor from which anything can be taken to add to it. 

The petition was not a success, and Litchfield has con- 
tinued to "subsist" as a town, with very few changes of its 
boundaries, from that time to the present. 

The town of Pelham, by its charter, included that por- 
tion of the town of Dracut that by the settlement of the 
Province line fell into New Hampshire, and the east part 
of Nottingham, as before described. 



162 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



The first town meeting under the new charter, called 
by Zaccheus Lovevvell, was held at the house of Samuel 
Greeley, July 17, 174(5, at which Zaccheus Lovewell was 
elected moderator; Samuel Greeley town clerk; George 
Burns treasurer, and Samuel Greeley, Zaccheus Lovewell 
and Eleazer Cummings selectmen. 

The first tax list under the new charter, dated October 
31, 1746, contained the following names: 



Ezekiel Chase,* 



Capt. Thomas Colburn,* 1 



Thomas Pollard,* 


3 


Benjamin Thompson, 


1 


Samuel Greeley, Jr., 


1 


Joseph Gould, 




Benjamin Tyng,* 


1 


Daniel Merrill,* 


1 


Ebenezer Dakin,* 


1 


Samuel Huston,* 


1 


Jonathan Hardy,* 


1 


Ephraim Cummings,* 


1 


John Caldwell,* 


1 


John Mitchell,* 


1 


Robert Glover, 


1 


Thomas Kenney,* 


1 


James Marsh, 


1 


Benjamin Frost,* 


1 


Ezekiel Page, 


1 


Abraham Page, 


1 


Josiah Dutton, 


1 


Nathan Cross,* 


2 


John Marshall,* 


o 


Josiah Cummings,* 


1 


Roger Chase,* 


2 


William Taylor,* 


1 


John Bradbury, 


1 


Henry Hills,* 


1 


Joseph Pollard,* 


1 



Maj. Zaccheus Lovewell,* 1 

Lieut. Joseph Winn,* 2 

Joseph Blodgett,* 1 

Dea. Samuel Greeley,* 1 

Thomas Burns,* 1 
Samuel Gould, 

Dea. Abel Merrill,* 1 

Samuel Jewet,* 2 

George Burns,* 1 

Samuel Burbank,* 1 

Joseph Winn, Jr., 1 

James Wason,* 1 

Joseph Caldwell, 2 

John Huey,* 2 

Joseph Snow,* 2 

Ebenezer Blodgett, 1 

Onesiphorus Marsh, 1 

Daniel Simonds, 1 

Isaac Page, 1 

Ebenezer Taylor, 1 

Eleazer Cummings,* 1 

William Cummings,* 1 

John Marsh,* 1 

Edward Spalding,* 1 

Nathaniel Hills,* 2 
William Casson, 

Ezekiel Greeley,* 1 
Isaac Cummings, 

James Hills,* 2 



NOTTINGHAM WEST AND FAMILIES 163 

Ezekiel Hills,* 1 John Marsh, Jr.,* 

Thomas Marsh,* 1 Charles Darrah,* 

Arthur Darrah, 1 Henry Hills, Jr.,* 

Samuel Hills, 1 Nathaniel Hills, Jr.,* 

Henry Snow, 1 John Snow, 

David Lawrence, 1 John Carkin, 

Widow Mary Spalding, William Campbell, 

John Woodard, Capt. Robert Fletcher, 

Zaccheus Spalding, Robert Nevins. 

Thus it will be seen that eleven of the resident tax- 
payers paid twenty-three poll taxes, or for twelve others 
more than their own, making the full number of residents 
in town subject to be assessed for poll or property tax, to 
be seventy-nine. 

The names of the twelve whose taxes were paid by 
others are not given, but they were probably the sons or 
hired men of those to whom the taxes were assessed. 

From the list of the resident taxpayers in 1733, Ensign 
John Snow and Eleazer Cummings, Jr., had died, and Jabez 
Davis, Ebenezer Spalding and John Taylor had removed 
from town. 

A brief sketch of some of these early residents, not 
previously noted in this history — who became prominent 
and influential citizens of the town, and whose families be- 
came numerous — may prove of interest to their many de- 
scendants. 

Ebenezer Blodgett 

Ebenezer Blodgett, son of Joseph, was born at the 
Blodgett garrison, January 3, 1720. He was assessed here 
from 1744 to 1763, inclusive. His residence, while he re- 
mained in this town, was upon a part of his father's home- 
stead. 



* This list contains seventy-six names, but nine of them were non-residents that owned 
some land in this town; twenty-two others were assessed for poll, but no land, leaving forty- 
five residents that were assessed for farms or other real estate. The names of these forty-five 
resident land owners are marked with an asterisk. The numeral at the end of each name 
shows the number of poll taxes paid by each. 



164 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

He removed to Plymouth, N. II., with his brother, 
James Blodgett, about 1764, and became a very prominent 
and useful citizen in the management of that town's affairs 
in its early settlement. He died in Plymouth in 1802. No 
children. 

Samuel Burbank 

Samuel Burbank settled on the River road, at the 
south part of Nottingham, as early as 1742. The old Bur- 
bank farm, which remained in possession of the Burbank 
family for many years, was the first north and adjoining the 
old Wilson Mill farm. 

We find recorded the births of five children of Samuel 
and Eunice (Hardy) Burbank. She died January 10, 1765. 
He died after 1778. 

George Burns 

George Burns, of Scotch origin, born in Ireland in 
1696, came to America about 1720, and with John, his 
brother, and Thomas, probably his father, settled in this 
town about 1736. John Burns removed to Milford, N. 
H., in 1742. Tradition says that his removal from this 
town was made with a small canoe or boat, which he pro- 
pelled up the Merrimack to the mouth of the Souhegan, 
thence up that stream to his destination, where he settled 
and left a large posterity. He died in 1782. 

George Burns settled on a farm at the south part of 
this town, east of the Lowell road, which is now, and for 
many years past has been, owned and occupied by Robert 
Groves. He died in 1779, aged 83 years. 

His widow, Mary (Glover) Burns, died February 11, 
1811, aged 98. Upon her head stone in the Blodgett Cem- 
etery is the following: "This venerable woman had 175 
descendants, consisting of 11 children, 62 grand-children, 
98 great-grand-children, and 4 of the fifth generation." 

George Burns was prominent in affairs relating to the 
government of the town. He was Moderator in 1770, and 



NOTTINGHAM WEST AND FAMILIES 165 

was one of the selectmen six years, being chairman of the 
board in 1752, 1768 and 1770. 

Thomas Burns 

Thomas Burns settled in Nottingham in 1736, and was 
assessed until 1764, but no record is found to show that he 
had a wife or children. He was probably the father of 
George and John — possibly a brother. 

John Caldwell 

John Caldwell, who may have been from Londonderry, 
settled on Bush Hill about 1738. The farm owned and oc- 
cupied by him was the next one south, and adjoining the 
same farm that was later owned by Asa Davis, and now 
called the Morrison farm. A part of the same land re- 
mained in possession of the Caldwell family until a very 
recent date. He was a land surveyor and a farmer. He 
died February 25, 1765. 

Joseph Caldwell 

Joseph Caldwell, assessed from 1744 to 1756, was 
probably from Londonderry, and may have been the father 
of John. He also resided on Bush Hill and owned the 
farm formerly belonging to John Mitchell, and later to 
Asa Davis. February 16, 1769, "James Caldwell, (son of 
the preceding,) conveyed to Asa Davis 65 acres of land, 
more or less. Beginning at the south-west corner, at a 
Black Ash tree Standing in a swamp, it being the N. W. 
corner of John Caldwell's, late of Nottingham West, de- 
ceased, land; thence North, 63 rods to Colonel Tyngs land; 
thence easterly by said Tyngs, a parallel line with the 
north line of John Caldwells aforesaid, deceased land 167 
rods to John Flueysland; thence south to said Caldwells 
land 63 rods, thence westerly on said Caldwells land 167 
rods to the bound first mentioned." James Caldwell re- 
cited that he received the same by inheritance. This was 
the homestead of Asa Davis, Esq., and later of Daniel 



166 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Taylor Davis, and now of Morrison. We find no record of 
Joseph Caldwell's death. 

Ezekiel Chase 

Doctor Ezekiel Chase, the first resident physician of 
Nottingham, came here about 1740, and settled on the 
same farm that had been occupied by Joseph Snow, it be- 
ing situated a little north of the state line and bordering 
on the Merrimack River. The cellar is still visible a little 
south.of the old Ferry road, and the house of the late J. S. 
Winn. About 1747, Ezekiel Chase was commissioned a 
justice of the peace, and was the first resident of this town 
to be honored with that distinction. He was moderator of 
the annual town meetings for eleven years. He was town 
clerk for 1748, and was one of the selectmen for nine years, 
six of which he was the chairman of the board. His wife, 
Priscilla, was a sister of Rev. Nathaniel Merrill, the first 
minister settled in Nottingham. She died February 22, 
1768, in the 59th year of her age. 

He married a second wife, Elizabeth . 

Doctor Chase seems to have been a man of good abili- 
ty and much influence, and a very active citizen. He con- 
veyed his farm of one hundred acres, August 9, 1773, to 
Samuel Pollard, in consideration of two hundred pounds. 
He continued to reside there, or in that vicinity, until about 
1780, when he probably removed from the town, as no fur- 
ther record of him is found here. 

Roger Chase 

Deacon Roger Chase, a brother or kinsman of Doctor 
Ezekiel, was first assessed in Nottingham as early as 1739, 
at about which time he purchased the Hills' Garrison farm, 
where he resided until 1754, when he moved to the Enoch 
Hills farm on "Hills Row." He remained there until 1762, 
when he probably removed from this town, as no further 
record relating to him is found. He was twice elected a 
member of the board of selectmen. 



nottingham west and families 167 

Isaac Cummings 

The residence of Isaac Cummings was a short dis- 
tance north of the north line of Nottingham West, just 
in the edge of Litchfield. He was assessed in Not- 
tingham West for the years, 1746, 1747 and 1748. It ap- 
pears from a petition he made to the General Court of New 
Hampshire to have his farm annexed to Nottingham West, 
that he had supposed — until the line was surveyed and es- 
tablished between Nottingham West and Litchfield, some- 
time subsequent to the date of the incorporation of these 
two towns — that his residence was south of the line. 

It would also seem that the selectmen of Nottingham 
West believed he was an inhabitant of that town, as they 
assessed him there for three years. When the town line 
was surveyed it left more than one-half of his farm, with the 
buildings, in Litchfield. Not much is known of this Isaac 
Cummings. His wife, Elizabeth, died, October 23, 1763, as 
the inscription on her head stone in the Hills' Farm Ceme- 
tery will show. Isaac Cummings left no children, but he 
had a colored female servant, Nancy, to whom he gave his 
farm. She was the mother of Peter Blanchard, who owned 
and occupied the place during his life, and later it was 
owned by another colored family by the name of Hazzard. 
It has long been known as the "Nigger place," but no one 
has resided there for many years, and the buildings have 
decayed. 

Ebenezer Dakin 

But little is found upon the records in relation to this 
man Dakin, excepting the appearance of his name upon 
the assessment lists from 1745 to 1778, inclusive. 

There is not much doubt that he was the father of 
Levi and Justus Dakin, whose names appear upon the town 
records, a little later. His residence was at the south part 
of the town, on the Back Road, and probably on what was 
later the Zaccheus Colburn farm, and still later the Wason 
place. 



168 HISTORY OF HUDSOW 

April 1, 1778, Ebenezer and Levi Dakin, in considera- 
tion of nine hundred and thirty pounds, conveyed to Sam- 
uel Brown of Newbury, Mass., one hundred and twenty 
acres of land, together with the house and barn, orchard, 
fences and all appurtenances thereto belonging. 

Charles Darrah 

Charles Darrah was assessed in Nottingham from 1737 
to 1747, when he removed — probably to Litchfield. He 
owned a part, or all, of the farm formerly belonging to 
Eleazer Cummings, Jr., who died in 1734, which farm has 
previously been described, and a part of which is now 
owned by Josiah K. Wheeler. John Marsh seems to have 
come into possession of the greater portion of the farm 
somewhere about 1742. 

Arthur Darrah 

Arthur Darrah, a kinsman to Charles, resided with 
him. 

Josiah Dutton 

Josiah Dutton was assessed in Nottingham and Not- 
tingham West from 1743 to 1764, inclusive. 

For several years his residence was near what is 
now Taylor's Falls Bridge, then the ferry. About that 
time the ferry was known as Dutton's Ferry, and it seems 
quite conclusive that he owned and operated it, and may 
have established it. October 17, 1748, Josiah Dutton, 
blacksmith, conveyed to Nathan Cross, twenty-five acres 
of land east of the County Road, now Library Street, that 
north of the Ferry Road, adjoining land of Eleazer Cum- 
mings on the north. There is a very ancient cellar on this 
tract, east of the stand pipe, and a little north of the Bar- 
ret's Hill road, or Highland Street. More than a hun- 
dred years ago, this place was known as "The Old College." 
Later he lived one and one-half miles farther north, on the 
old Derry road — now discontinued — about forty rods east 




Dea. MOSES GREELEY 



NOTTINGHAM WEST AND FAMILIES 169 

of the present Derry road, and fifty rods south of the Marsh 
road, where the cellar is still visible. 

Samuel Greeley 

Deacon Samuel Greeley removed from Haverhill, 
Mass., to Nottingham about 1740, and settled on a farm ex- 
tending from the Merrimack River to Hills' Meadow, a 
distance of about one and one-half miles. It contained 
some two hundred acres, and was the adjoining farm on 
the north of the original Joseph Blodgett Garrison place. 

Until within a few years this farm had wholly remained 
in the possession of Deacon Greeley's descendants, and a 
part is still owned by Samuel A. Greeley, whose house oc- 
cupies the identical site on which the original house was 
erected by his ancestor in 1740. His children were all born 
in Haverhill before his removal to this town. 

Samuel Greeley was elected clerk of the District of 
Nottingham, August 9, 1743, and was re-elected each suc- 
ceeding year as long as it continued a district — until 1746. 

He was chosen one of the selectmen in 1743, 5, 6, 7 
and 8. He was chairman of the Board in 1746. 

March 7, 1748, Deacon Samuel Greeley and John 
Marsh were chosen delegates to the New Hampshire Gen- 
eral Court, to answer a citation in relation to a petition of 
Josiah Cummings and other inhabitants of the town, to be 
released from paying taxes for the support of Rev. Mr. 
Nathaniel Merrill. 

Deacon Greeley was a very influential citizen in the 
early affairs of the town. 

His wife, Rachel, died September 19, 1758, in the 62d 
year of her age. He married a second wife, Jane, who 
died June 12, 1762, in her 58th year. This last wife was 
buried in the ancient burial yard at South Nashua, where 
her head stone still remains. He died May 25, 1771, in his 
76th year, and was buried in the Blodgett Cemetery be- 
side his first wife, where their head stones may still be seen. 



170 HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Ezekiel Greeley 



Ezekiel Greeley, brother of Deacon Samuel, born in 
Haverhill, October 21, 1725, married Esther, daughter 
of Major Zaccheus and Esther Lovewell, born in Dunsta- 
ble, November 10, 1728. His residence, as before noted, 
was at "Hills Row." He was in Captain John Goffe's com- 
pany, scouting between the Merrimack and Connecticut 
rivers, from July 30 to August 27, 1745. 

He died January 21, 1793. His widow, Esther, sur- 
vived him many years. 

Samuel Greeley, Jr. 

Major Samuel Greeley, the oldest son of Samuel and 
Rachel Greeley, born in Haverhill, Mass., May 10, 1721, 
came to this town with his father about 1740. 

He married, May 27, 1744, Abigail Blodgett, daughter 
of Joseph and Dorothy (Perham) Blodgett, and resided up- 
on his father's homestead until 1777. Then, leaving the 
Greeley farm to his sons, Samuel and Joseph Greeley, he 
removed to Wilton, where he died. 

It is said that while traveling the highway there on 
horseback, a tree fell upon him and caused his death. His 
death is not recorded here. After his decease his wife, 
Abigail, returned to this town, where she died March 29, 
1818, in her 95th year. He was town clerk from 1747 to 
1776, inclusive, except for the year 1748. He was a mem- 
ber of the board of selectmen for fourteen years — from 1749 
to 1757, and for 1761-2-3 and 1766, being chairman the last 
four years. 

He was captain of a company of sixty-two men who 
turned out as volunteers from Nottingham West, at the 
time of the battle of Lexington, on the 19th day of April, 
1775. He was elected delegate to the General Court of 
New Hampshire, to represent the towns of Nottingham 
West and Litchfield, January 4, 1762. March 4th of the 
same year he was re-elected. He was a ..iember of the 
board of selectmen of Wilton. 



nottingham west and families 171 

Jonathan Hardy 

Jonathan Hardy was first assessed in Nottingham in 
1743. He resided at the south part of the town, not very 
far from the river, though the exact location is not known. 
He was probably the first to establish and operate the ferry 
that existed for more than eighty years nearly opposite the 
South Nashua Railroad Station. This ferry was first 
called Hardy's Ferry — later Pollard's Ferry, Corey's Fer- 
ry, etc. 

March 26, 1747- A Road viewed and laid out three poles wide, run- 
ning from the Road by the little Bridge, so called, running over said 
Bridge by Huston's fence to Hardy's line, thence between Hardy and 
Chase to a marked tree on Hardy's land, thence by marked tree on 
Hardy's land to Merrimack River. 

Ezekiel Chase, 

John Marshall, Selectmen. 

John Marsh. 

Another road was laid out to ''Hardy's Ferry," Decem- 
ber 5, 1757. The old Ferry house cellar is still plainly vis- 
ible on the bank of the Merrimack near the northerly line 
of land, late of J. Sylvanus Winn, now owned by Paul But- 
ler of Lowell. 

The ferry was operated as such until the completion of 
Taylor's Falls Bridge in 1827. Jonathan Hardy was in 
the French and Indian war in 1758. He died about 1778. 

Samuel Huston 

Samuel Huston, or Houston, was assessed from 1743 
to 1747, inclusive, and seems to have resided at the south 
part of the town, on what was later the "Wilson Mills" 
place. 

John Huey 

But little is known of this John Huey. 

He was assessed in Nottingham as early as 1736. His 
residence was at the north side of Bush Hill, and the an- 
cient Huey cellar is on the east side of the Morrison farm, 



172 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

south-west of the bridle path that leads to the old Smith 
farm — now abandoned. 

Thomas Kinney 

Thomas Kinney was assessed here from 1736 to 1762. 
His residence was at first at the north side of Bush Hill, 
and later not very far from Hudson Center. 

He died December 2, 1762. 

David Lawrence 

David Lawrence was a tax payer here from 1740 to 
1785, excepting eight years between 1769 and 1778, when 
his residence was in that part of Londonderry that was an- 
nexed to Nottingham West in 1778. He resided in the 
north part of the town, near the "Hills Farms," until about 
1770, when he probably removed to what is now the Alfred 
Eaton farm in the easterly part of the town, then in Lon- 
donderry, but from and after 1778 in Nottingham West. 

He is supposed to have come to this town from Dun- 
stable, as the records there show the birth of Sarah, daugh- 
ter of David and Sarah Lawrence, born January 31, 1732. 
Also recorded in the Nottingham records: 

Eleazer, son of David and Sarah Lawrence, born June 9, 1738. 

David and Jonathan Lawrence were probably his sons, 
and there were doubtless other children. The wife of Al- 
fred Eaton, deceased, was a descendant of this David Law- 
rence through a daughter of David Lawrence, Jr., who 
married James Smith, who occupied the same farm, which 
was inherited by their son — known as "Devil Jim" Smith, 
and who was the father of Mrs. Eaton. 

His son Jonathan also resided a little farther north- 
east. "Lawrence Corner" was named for this family of 
Lawrences. 

John Marshall 

John Marshall came to Nottingham in 1742. He was 
assessed from 1743 to 1755, inclusive. His residence was 




MARY DERBY GREELEY 



NOTTINGHAM WEST AND FAMILIES 173 

on the John Taylor Garrison farm, which has been previous- 
ly described. He was one of the selectmen in 1744-7 and 
9, and was chairman of the board for the last year. 

He died January 5, 1756. He was succeeded on the 
same farm by John Marshall, Jr., who occupied it until 
1754, when he removed to that part of Londonderry that 
was annexed to Nottingham West in 1778. 

Daniel Marshall, another son, continued to occupy the 
farm until about 1757, when it came into possession of 
Reuben Spalding, son of Ebenezer, born July 26, 1728, 
and has remained in the hands of his descendants, either 
in part or in whole, to the present time. 

The posterity of John Marshall became very numerous, 
and many of them, bearing various names, are yet resi- 
dents of Hudson. 

John Marsh 

John, son of John and Lydia (Emerson) Marsh, born 
in Haverhill, Mass., August 19, 1693, married December 8, 
1718, Sarah Severance of Kingston, N. H., and removed to 
Nottingham about 1742. 

He purchased the greater part of the farm formerly 
owned by Eleazer Cummings, Jr., and probably soon after 
erected a new house farther west than was the old Cum- 
mings-Darrah house, and which stood on the west side of the 
road, a little to the north of the present house on the same 
farm owned now by the heirs of Josiah K. Wheeler. Mr. 
Wheeler's first wife was the daughter of Thomas Marsh, a 
descendant of the fourth generation of John Marsh. She 
inherited the farm from her father. It was a part of the 
Joseph Hills land already described in a former chapter. 

Mr. Marsh was one of the selectmen in 1747 and 1750, 
and was chairman of the board for the latter year. He was 
a delegate to the General Court of New Hampshire in 1747 
and 1748. 

He was a prominent and useful man in his town, and his 
descendants became numerous here and elsewhere. Very 



174 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

many of the citizens of this town have descended from this 
John Marsh, although a great majority of them are known 
by other names. 

He died November 20, 1777, aged 84 years, 2 months 
and 20 days. 

His widow, Sarah, died January 28, 1786, aged 87 
years, 1 month and 3 days. They were buried in the an- 
cient Hills Farms Cemetery. 

Thomas Marsh 

Thomas was a son of the preceding John Marsh, born 
in Haverhill, December 19, 1719. 

He married Ann, daughter of Benjamin and Ruth 
(Whittier) Greeley of Haverhill, November 17, 1744. 

He was first assessed here in 1741, but was not a per- 
manent resident until about 1761. He was assessed in 1741, 
43, 46, 47, 49, 50, 57, 58, 61, and each year later until 1803. 
He and his brother, John, Jr., resided on "Hills Row" for 
several years — at first in Litchfield, as before stated. 

His permanent settlement upon the Marsh farm — 
which, with the exception of a brief period, has remained 
in the possession of his descendants, and is now owned by 
Walter Hiram Marsh, a great-grandson of Thomas — was 
probably not until 1761, though he may possibly have re- 
sided there temporarily previous to that time. This place 
lies about two miles north of Taylor's Falls Bridge, and is 
east of the Derry road. 

His wife, Ann, died April 19, 1770. For a second 
wife, he married Mehitabel Barker of Pelham, March, 1774. 
He died July 3, 1808. He was an elder of the Presbyterian 
church for many years. It is said that for some years after 
his first settlement upon the farm, he had his residence in 
a small house some one hundred rods south-westerly from 
the present home of Walter H. Marsh, on a sand hill, 
where are still to be seen some traces of the ancient resi- 
dence. 



NOTTINGHAM WEST AND FAMILIES 175 

Mr. Marsh has recently erected a house over the old 
cellar where was located the permanent home of his hon- 
ored ancester — Elder Thomas Marsh. 

John Marsh, Jr. 

Some mention has already been made in relation to 
this John, Jr., brother of Thomas Marsh. He was born in 
Haverhill, March 4, 1725. He married Martha, daughter 
of Ezra Rolfe. They lived on "Hills Row," upon the same 
farm with his brother Thomas, from 1744 to 1751, when 
they moved to that part of Londonderry that was annexed 
to Nottingham West in 1778. After the annexation his 
name again appears upon the tax lists, June, 1778. He 
died in 1779. He resided at the north-east corner of what 
is now Hudson, probably on the farm later owned by 
Ebenezer Wood and his son. 

He was in the company of Captain John Goffe, scout- 
ing from the Merrimack to the Connecticut River, from 
July 30 to August 27, 1745. 

James Marsh 

James was a kinsman to John Marsh, born in Haver- 
hill, Mass. He was assessed in Nottingham in 1735, 1743, 
44, 45, 46, 47 and 48. He married Hannah French. His 
residence was at the east part of the town, on or near the 
North Pelham road. He died as early as 1749, as his widow 
was assessed for his estate that year. 

Onesiphorus Marsh 

Onesiphorus, son of Onesiphorus of Onesiphorus of 
Onesiphorus of George, the immigrant, was a brother of 
James, and was assessed here from 1743 to 1754, inclusive. 

He married Lydia . She died sometime after 1754, 

and he next married Dorothy (Blodgett) Thompson, daugh- 
ter of Joseph and Dorothy (Perham) Blodgett, born in this 
town, February 18, 1724, by whom he had a daughter, 
Sarah, born in Plymouth, N. H., in 1769. She married 
John Rideout of Plymouth. 



176 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

His residence was also at the east part of the town, 
near that of his brother James, probably on the Captain 
John Haseltine farm, later the Jeremiah Smith place, near 
the Pelham line. He removed to Monson, now Milford,. 
N. H., about 1755, and to Plymouth, N. H., in 1765, being 
one of the original proprietors of the township. He died 
in Plymouth, August 8, 1808.* 

Abel Merrill 

Deacon Abel Merrill, a kinsman — probably a brother — 
of Rev. Nathaniel Merrill, was assessed from 1741 to 1750, 
inclusive. His home was at the south part of the town, on 
or near the Back road, and not very far from the residence 
of the Rev. Nathaniel. 

Daniel Merrill 

Ensign Daniel Merrill was assessed here from 1740 to 
1769, inclusive. He lived not far from the home of Rev. 
Nathaniel, to whom he was a relative. His wife, Tamisin, 
died January 30, 1755. He next married Mary, daughter 
of Henry Hale. 

It is said that they removed to Hollis. 

Nathaniel Merrill 

Rev. Nathaniel Merrill, the first resident minister set- 
tled by the town of Nottingham over the Congregational 
church of this place, and ordained as pastor, November 30, 
1737, — being a clergyman, was not assessed, but was a res- 
ident at the date of the town's incorporation in 1746. 

His farm was on the Back road, one-fourth of a mile 
north of the site of the first meeting-house. This was later 
the Joseph Winn place, the Benjamin Fuller farm, and now 
belongs to Leonard B. Marshall of Dorchester, Mass., and 
is occupied by him and his family, as a summer residence. 

This farm was once a part of Thomas Colburn's land. 
Mr. Merrill continued to occupy it as his home until his 



History of Plymouth, N. H. 



HIRAM MARSH 



NOTTINGHAM WEST AND FAMILIES 177 

decease, which occurred in 1796, fifty-nine years subse- 
quent to his settlement as pastor of the church in Not- 
tingham. 

John Mitchell 

John Mitchell was assessed from 1738 to 1748, and after 
his decease his estate was assessed to his widow, Jane Mitch* 
ell, until 1752. He lived on the north side of Bush Hill, 
probably on the farm later owned by James Caldwell, Asa 
Davis, and his descendants, and now by Augustus R. Mor- 
rison. He died about 1748 or 9, but no record of his death 
is found. 

Abraham Page 

Abraham Page, probably from Haverhill, Mass., came 
to Nottingham West in 1746. In the description of the 
laying out of the County Road, from Litchfield to the Mas- 
sachusetts line, by the Court's committee, in 1749, called 
"The King's Highway," we find the following: "S. 40° W. 
40 rods to a stake and stones at the east end of Mr. Page's 
Barn." 

This was at a point opposite Elmhurst — at the top of 
the hill and near the junction of the old road with the pres- 
ent Lowell road. 

An ancient cellar on the east side of the highway at 
this point is still plainly visible, marking the spot were 
Abraham Page's house stood in 1749. His barn was on the 
west side of the road. 

Mr. Page survived but a few years after coming to 
this town. He died March 1, 1752, in his 69th year. His 
wife, Judith (Worthen) Page, died July 23, 1759, in her 75th 
year. They were among the first burials in the Blodgett 
Cemetery, where their small, quaint head stones still stand. 

Ezekiel Page 

He was undoubtedly a son of Abraham, and came here 
from Haverhill with his father in 1746, as did also Isaac, 



178 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

probably his brother. On February 6, 1749, John Snow 
conveyed to Ezekiel Page thirty-six acres of land, more or 
less, being thirty and one-half rods wide and extending east- 
erly from the river about one hundred and eighty rods. 
Hillsboro County Registry of Deeds, Vol. 2, Page 377. 
Previous to this, March C, 1748, Vol. 2, Page 379, John 
Marshall conveyed to Ezekiel Page about eleven acres of 
land adjoining the foregoing described tract on the north, 
and extending from the Merrimack to the highway, which 
was later the county road, and bounded northerly by the 
Eleazer Cummings farm, which then was the southerly line 
of the Joseph Hills land. This deed has the following clause 
in the description : "Thence southerly by said road (County 
road) to a road laid out for the conveniency of the Ferry, 
formerly called Dutton's Ferry." Probably Mr. Page 
owned the ferry for a time, as the first tract of land de- 
scribed seems to have always after been owned by the later 
owners of the ferry, and contained the Ferry landing. The 
east end of Taylor's Falls Bridge is near the center of 
the same tract of land. At about 1750, Mr. Page removed 
to what is now the north-east part of Hudson, but was then 
the south-west part of Londonderry. After the annexation 
he was again assessed for 1778-9-80 and 1790. 

Isaac Page 
Probably he was the brother of Ezekiel, and son of 
Abraham. He was assessed here from 1746 to 1753, and from 
1778 to 1802. He probably took his brother's place at 
the ferry until 1754, when he moved to the south-west cor- 
ner of Londonderry, which was annexed to Nottingham 
West in 1778. His residence at the north-east part of the 
town was not far from his brother Ezekiel's. His name 
appears in the tax lists from 1778 to 1802. 

Abraham Page, Jr. 
Abraham Page, Jr., was undoubtedly the son of Abra- 
ham, Sen., born about April, 1715. He was assessed here 
from 1749 to 1801, inclusive. 



NOTTINGHAM WEST AND FAMILIES 179 

For several years at the first his residence was at the 
east part of the town, near the North Pelham road. After- 
wards, and for many years previous to his death, he owned 
and occupied the farm later owned by Nathaniel Haselton, 
and now owned by Arthur W. Haselton. 

The house stood on the east side of the road, a short 
distance south of the present house of Arthur W. Hasel- 
ton, where the cellar is yet visible. He was a captain of 
the militia for many years. He was one of the selectmen 
for ten years, eight of which he was chairman of the board. 
He was the moderator of eleven annual town meetings, and 
was a representative to the General Court of New Hamp- 
shire in 1775 and 1776. Tradition says that Captain Abra- 
ham Page brought up Nathaniel Haselton, after he was 
twelve years old. This Haselton bought the homestead 
farm of Captain Page, in consideration of two hundred and 
thirty-four pounds — deed dated April 1, 1795 — at the same 
time giving Mr. Page a life lease of the premises, to insure 
the support of himself and his wife, Elizabeth. March 31, 
1773, he conveyed to Timothy Smith a farm of one hun- 
dred acres, more or less, which was occupied by Mr. Smith 
until his death in 1802. This farm was that which was 
later owned by Captain Isaac Winn, afterwards known as 
the "Jim" Barrett place. March 18, 1773, he conveyed to 
Page Smith a farm of seventy acres, more or less, adjoin- 
ing his own farm on the north, which was later the Jeffer- 
son Smith homestead, and later still owned by Nathaniel 
Wentworth. His wife Elizabeth died March 6, 1782, in 
her 68th year. 

He married next, December 4, 1784, Dorothy Hadley. 

He died April 18, 1802, aged 86 years, 11 months and 
27 days. 

No births of children of Captain Page are found re- 
corded. 



ISO 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Samuel Page 

Samuel Page, probably another son of Abraham Page, 
was assessed from 1751 to 1773, inclusive. 

Esther, his wife, died July 30, 1757, in the 28th year 
of her age. 

He next married Sarah, daughter of Ephraim and Eliz- 
abeth (Butler) Cummings, born in Nottingham, May 12, 
1736. 

After his second marriage, he lived on the south side 
of Bush Hill, not far from the home of his father-in-law, 
Ephraim Cummings. 

He probably removed from this town in 1774. 

Henry Snow 

Henry, son of Joseph and Bridget Snow, born Novem- 
ber 17, 1725, was assessed from 1746 to 1764, when he re- 
moved to Plymouth, N. H. He lived in the east part of 
the town, not very far from the residence of Onesiphorus 
Marsh. He was one of the selectmen in 1760. He died 
in Plymouth, May 11, 1770, in his 45th year. His wife, 
Miriam, died in Plymouth, May 13, 1813. 

John Snow 

John, son of Joseph and Bridget Snow, born January 
11, 1723, was assessed from 1744 to 1751. After his fa- 
ther's death, he resided for a time with his mother at Chase 
hill on the Bush Hill road. 



Daniel Simonds 

Daniel Simonds was assessed from 1743 to 1765. He 
resided in the east part of the town. Very little is found 
upon the records here relating to him. His wife's name 
was Martha, and the records show that they had seven 
children born to them while they resided here. They re- 
moved from town about 1765. 



nottingham west and families 181 

William Taylor 

William Taylor settled in this town about the time 
that it became Nottingham West. He was assessed here 
from 1746 to 1772, inclusive, and for the years 1777, 79 and 
1781. For a time he owned a farm half a mile below Tay- 
lor's Falls Bridge, and bordering on the river opposite 
Taylor's Falls. This fall in the river, which was consider- 
able, is now covered by the flowage of the water from the 
dam at Pawtucket Falls at Lowell. It was probably named 
for this William Taylor. 

His house was on the east side of Lowell road, a little 
distance north No. 2 turnout, where the cellar is yet visi- 
ble. This place was owned by the Marshalls for many 
years, a large part of it is now owned by Frank M. Winn. 
He probably removed from town. 

Benjamin Tyng 

Benjamin Tyng, son of Eleazer and grandson of Jona- 
than Tyng, born in Dunstable, now Tyngsborough, Janu- 
ary 26, 1722, resided for a few years at the south part of 
the town, near Deacon Abel Merrill's. He was assessed 
from 1743 to 1747. 

James Wason 

James Wason, a Presbyterian emigrant from London- 
derry, settled on the east side of the road at the summit of 
Bush Hill in 1740, where he remained until his death, which 
occurred August 22, 1799, in the 89th year of his age. 

His name appears on the tax lists of 1740 for the first 
time. The farm was afterwards owned by Samuel Wason, 
and for many years was known as the Walker farm, and 
still later it was owned by Armstrong. 

He was born in the parish of Ballymena, County of 
Antrim, in the north-east part of Ireland in 1711, and came 
to this country with his brother Thomas in 1736. He was 
married in Portsmouth, N. H., to Hannah Caldwell of that 
place, in the year of his arrival, 1736. The Caldwells who 



182 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



settled near him on Bush Hill, probably were kinsmen of 
his wife. Hannah, wife of James Wason, died April 16, 
1786, aged 80 years. Both are buried in the Blodgett 
Cemetery, where their head stones still remain. Mr. Wa- 
son was an active citizen in the affairs of the town. He 
was one of the selectmen in 1747, and held many other of- 
fices. He seems to have been a very firm believer in the 
creed of the Presbyterian church, and sometimes refused 
to pay taxes for the support of Rev. Mr. Merrill, who 
was a Congregational minister, while at the same time 
the Presbyterians were taxing themselves for the mainte- 
nance of a pastor of their own persuasion, who preached to 
them at the North meeting-house. 



CHAPTER XV 

The First Meeting-House 

Under charter of January 4, 1733, "The inhabitants 
of said town of Nottingham are hereby enjoined and re- 
quired, within the space of three years from the publication 
of this act, to procure a learned orthordox minister, of 
good conversation, and make provision for his comfortable 
support." 

If, by the conditions of the charter, it was understood 
that the town was enjoined to settle an "orthordox minis- 
ter," within three years from the date of the charter, those 
conditions were not strictly complied with. 

Yet those inhabitants, though few in numbers, did not 
forget their duty to appropriate money and supply a minis- 
ter to preach the Gospel. June 12, 1733, they raised sev- 
enty pounds "of money for carrying on ye public worship 
of God." September 11, 1733, "Voted to have preaching 
until March." March 6, 1734, "Voted a Hundred Pound 
Rate for to be raised for to hire a minister to preach ye 
Gospel." 

Samson Stoddard was probably the first minister em- 
ployed. We find in the account of John Snow, the first 
treasurer of the town, the following: "March 18, 1734, 
Paid to Mr. Samson Stoddard for preaching the gospel 
35-10-5" "May 11, 1734, Paid to Mr. Samson Stoddard 
for preaching the gospel 4-2-0" "Dec. 15, 1734, Paid to 
Mr. Samson Stoddard for preaching the gospel 30-7-7" 

We also find in the next account which is without 
date, but was probably about a year later, the following: 

Paid to Mr. Isaac Richardson for preaching the gospel. 16-0-10 
Paid to Mr. Thomas Skinner for preaching the gospel., 14-0-0 
Paid to Mr. Ebenezer Wyman for preaching the gospel, 12-5-0 

183 



184 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Probably these four were the only ministers employed 
to preach here, until the settlement of the Rev. Nathaniel 
Merrill. 

The building of a meeting-house began to be agitated 
by the inhabitants of Nottingham very scon after the town 
received its charter; but it appears from the records to have 
been a difficult matter for them to settle upon a site. 

At a town meeting, held at the house of Ensign John 
Snow, September 11, 1733, it was "Voted that ye select- 
men measure from ye lower end of this town, beginning at 
Dracut Line, so up ye River as far as Natticook Line, and 
so round ye town, and also to find ye Senter of ye Land." 

At the same meeting adjourned to November 5, 1733, 
it was "Voted that ye meetinghouse should stand ye East 
side of Littlehales Meadow at a heap of stones at ye Root 
of a pine tree." 

At a town meeting called for the purpose of locating 
and building a meeting-house, and raising money for the 
same, held December 26, 1733, at 9 o'clock a. m., "Voted 
to adjourn the meeting for one hour and a half for the Town 
to go and view ye land in order for setting the meeting- 
house and also it was put to vote, Whether the town would 
establish and confirm their former vote and build a meet- 
ing house on the place voted for the fifth day of November 
1733, and the vote past in the negative." 

The town also voted to choose a new place "for to set 
and build a meeting house on, and also the Town voted 
that they would build and set a meetinghouse in Notting- 
ham not exceeding fifty poles to the South from the pine 
tree that Capt. Joseph Blanchard measured to and marked, 
December the 24th day in the year 1733." 

"We whose names are underwritten are holly against 
and do enter ouer desent against the Towns proseeding to 
build a meeting house in the plase voted for December the 
26th day 1733. 

Capt. Robert Fletcher, Samuel Gould, 

Daniel Fletcher, Ezekiel Fletcher, 







JAMES B. MERRILL 



THE FIRST MEETING-HOUSE 185 

Zaccheus Spaulding, Jeremiah Colburn." 

All the dissenters above recorded, resided in the south 
part of Nottingham, which later, by the adjustment of the 
Province line, fell into Massachusetts. Their protest was 
probably due to the vote of the town to locate the meeting- 
house farther north than they deemed in justice to all. 

Also as the sun was selling the meeting was adjourned for half an 
hower ; and also the Town voted that they would build a meeting house 
forty feet Long and thirty five feet wyde and twenty feet between joints; 
and also the town made choice of James Perham, Joseph Hamblet Elea- 
zer Cummings, Capt. Robert Fletcher & Thomas Colburn a committee to 
accomplish and set up the above frame by the time voted for, and also 
the town voted that the meeting house s-hali be raised by the first day of 
May next. 

There must have been considerable time spent in dis- 
cussion, or otherwise, at that meeting, as it was called for 
the special purpose to act upon the matter of building a 
meeting-house, and convened at nine o'clock in the morn- 
ing, being still in session at sunset. 

At the annual town meeting March 6, 1734, after the 
election of the necessary town officers, and voting to raise 
money to defray the regular expenses, provision was made 
to hire a minister "to preach the gospel," it was "Voted 
y* ye committee y l was chos to git ye meeting house frame 
should put king posts into ye meeting house, and also ye 
Town voted they would except ye meeting house frame 21 
feet high between joints." 

The meeting was adjourned to the following day, 
March 7, and after an animated discussion, a recess was 
taken for two hours "to view ye land in order to agree upon 
a place to build a meeting house on, and also ye Town 
voted a rate of 50 pounds to be added to ye 40 pounds y l 
was raised for finishing ye meeting house frame, which 
forty pounds was raised December ye 26, 1733. 

"These two Rates to be made in one Rate: and also 
ye Rate above mentioned is to pay for ye meeting house 
frame & for finishing ye meeting house. 



186 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

"Joseph Hamblet, James Perham : Joseph Winn: John 
Butler: Zaccheus Lovel : was chosen a committee for to 
finish the meeting house. 

"Voted y l they would board and clapboard & shingle 
& lay the loar fior of ye meeting house, and also glaze ye 
meeting house. 

"Also voted y l ye committee should accomplish ye 
above menshond work by ye last of September. 

"It was put to vote wether the Town would build a 
meeting house on ye South place voted for, or ye North 
place voted for, and ye Town voted y* they would set & 
build a meeting house on ye North place voted for, upon a 
little hill where was laid up a heap of stones in ye land of 
Thomas Colburn not exceeding fifty polls to ye south from 
ye Pine tree y* Cap. Joseph Blanchard meashered to and 
markt December 24, 1733." 

Capt. Joseph Blanchard, a surveyor, was employed by 
the selectmen to find the center of the town, and the pine 
tree marked by him was undoubtedly considered the cen- 
ter, at least running north and south. The road from 
Dracut to Litchfield was not laid out at that time, but was 
accepted by the selectmen February 15, 1734. 

A part of this road is now known as the "Back Road," 
or "Burns Road," and it leads over Burns hill, past the 
VVason farm, now owned by J. F. Wilson, and by the old 
place of Rev. Nathaniel Merrill, now owned by Leonard 
Marshall, across Musquash brook, and by the Timothy S. 
Ford place, and past the site of Ensign John Snow's house, 
where all the town meetings, with one exception, were held 
until the meeting-house was erected, until coming to the 
Lowell road laid out in November, 1822. 

At a town meeting held May 27, 1734, it was voted to 
reconsider action taken at the previous meeting, relative to 
to the site of the meeting-house and voted to locate the 
house on "ye land of Thomas Colburn, at a heap of stones 
that was laid up this day not far from said Colburn's South- 
erly Dam." It was decided that the building should be 






THE FIRST MEETING-HOUSE 187 

raised the 5th of the following June, and the committee 
should provide for the raising. 

John Taylor, Eleazer Cummings, Nathan Cross and 
William Cummings, all of whom lived at the extreme 
northerly part of the town, opposed this new location, as 
it was half a mile south of the center of the town. Not- 
withstanding the opposition, the meeting-house was con- 
structed so far that a meeting was held in it October 3, 
1734, when the committee was voted one hundred pounds 
"for finishing ye meeting house." 

At an adjourned meeting held at the meeting-house 
December 3, 1735, it was "Voted that they would build a 
pulpit and also voted that they would build a body of seats 
leaving room for an alley in ye middle of ye meeting house 
up to ye pulpit. "Voted that they would leave room round 
the outside of ye body seats for to build pews and an alley 
round convenient to pass along. "Voted to build stairs up 
galleries and lay ye gallerie floors and build a gallerie rail 
in the fore seats." 

There has been considerable speculation among the 
old residents of Hudson, and some difference of opinion 
has existed in regard to the exact location of the first 
meeting-house of Nottingham. The only description of 
the lot upon which it stood, in addition to what has already 
been given, recorded in the town books, is in the record of 
a town meeting held at the meeting-house May 20, 1736, 
and is as follows : 

Mr. Thomas Colbum gave ye Town a piece of land around the meet- 
ing house so long as a meeting house may stand upon it, Beginning at ye 
North East corner of ye meeting house at a heap of stones, and so run- 
ning West to a heap of stones by ye highway laid out to Dracut line, & 
so running by said highway South to a heap of stones, so running East 
to a rock with stones upon it, and so running North to the first mentioned 
bound. 

This record proves conclusively, that the building was 
located on the east side of the road leading from Dracut to 
Litchfield, as laid out February 15, 1734, and now called 
the "Back Road." 



188 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Four different locations were made by the town before 
the matter was settled. This was owing to the difficulty 
of fixing a site which would be most convenient to all con- 
cerned. The geographical center of the town, as we have 
seen, found by Captain Blanchard's survey in 1733, was 
about half a mile north of Musquash Brook, in a north and 
south line. Finally the location selected, as I believe after 
having given the matter considerable study and research, 
was on the same lot, and very near the same position now 
occupied by school house Number One, which is on the 
east side of the Dracut-Litchfield road, a short distance 
north of Musquash bridge.* 

The meeting-house stood end to the road, and was 
forty feet in length from east to west, and thirty-five feet 
wide. It was twenty-one feet between joints, with king 
posts. There were three entrances or outside doors; one 
at the center of the east end, one at the center of the south 
front, and a third at the center of the west end. The gal- 
leries were on the east, south and west sides. The gallery 
stairs for the women were at the south-east corner, and for 
the men, at the south-west corner of the house. The pulpit 
was at the center of the north side, and the broad aisle ex- 
tended from the front door on the south to the pulpit. 
This last was elevated several feet, and reached by a short 
flight of stairs on the west side. 

Pew lots were leased to John Taylor, Henry Baldwin, 
Joseph Hamblet and Joseph Snow, on the south side; Elea- 
zer Cummings, Joseph Ferham, Ezekiel Fletcher and Dan- 
iel Fletcher, on the west side; Robert Fletcher and John 
Butler, on the north side; and Joseph Butterfield, Thomas 
Colburn and Ezekiel Spaulding on the east. The minis- 

* The first location, voted November 5, 1733, was on the east side of I.ittlehale's meadow. 
December 26, 1733, this selection was shown to be unsatisfactory, and it was voted to build a 
meeting-house ''not exceeding 50 poles to the south of a pine tree which Capt. Joseph lManch- 
ard measured to and marked Nov. 24, 1733." This was not satisfactory to those living at the 
south end of the town. Accordingly, March 7, 1734, a location near the first one selected, 
''on a little hill where was laid up a heap of stones in the land of Thomas Colburn" was 
voted. Then, May 27, 1734, this decision was reversed, and though there still were dissenters 
to the choice, the site described was accepted. — A". IV. 



THE FIRST MEETING-HOUSE 189 

ter's pew was on the north side, west of the pulpit stairs. 
An aisle extended around between the pews and the body 
of seats. The men's seats were west, and the women's 
seats east of the broad aisle. The pews were probably five 
feet square, with a few a little longer one way. The own- 
ers were required "to seal up the pews six or seven feet." 

Very little reference is made in the town records to 
the meeting-house, subsequent to the leasing of the pews in 
1736, until after the settlement of the Province line in May, 
1741. By this decision more than four thousand acres of 
the south part of Nottingham, and many of its most prom- 
inent citizens, remained in Massachusetts. By the in- 
corporations of Nottingham West, July 5, and Pelham, 
July 6, 1746, four thousand and five hundred acres were 
also taken from what constituted old Nottingham. On the 
other hand, Nottingham West included the northerly part 
of "Hills Farms," containing about one thousand acres, 
that had formerly been a part of Litchfield, as it was incor- 
porated in 1734. 

These changes in the boundary lines completely upset 
the calculations of the builders of the old Nottingham 
meeting-house, which now stood within two miles of the 
southern limits of the town, and did not accommodate the 
majority of the inhabitants of the town. Accordingly soon 
after receiving its charter "The Town voted to move the 
Preaching to Mr. Benjamin Whittemore's house in said 
Town." 

Benjamin Whittemore at that time owned the farm 
now occupied by Augustus F. Blodgett, and which extend- 
ed so far north as to include the land now belonging to the 
Blodgett cemetery. The Whittemore house is understood 
to have been at, or near, the same place where the Blodgett 
house now stands. 

The town meetings were also moved from the meeting- 
house to the houses of Samuel Greeley and Benjamin 
Whittemore, until a second meeting-house was built in 1748. 

It appears from the records, that considerable difficulty 
arose between the citizens of Nottingham West and those 



190 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

former inhabitants of Nottingham who, through the settle- 
ment of the Province line and the incorporation of Pelham, 
had become residents of Tyngsborough, Mass., and Pel- 
ham, N. H., all of whom had paid their proportionate part 
of the cost of building the house of worship. Out of the 
thirteen that were granted leases of pew lots, and built 
pews in the meeting-house, six had become residents of 
Tyngsborough, and three had been placed in Pelham, leav- 
ing only four of the original number residents of Notting- 
ham West. 

At a town meeting held November 24, 1746, it was 
"Voted to pull down the old meeting house," and Captain 
Colburn, John Marsh, Major Lovewell, John Marshall, Jos- 
eph Winn, Roger Chase, George Burns, James Hills and 
Eleazer Cummings were chosen as a committee to carry 
this vote into effect. 

For reasons that may be conjectured this committee, 
consisting of nine of the most influential and substantial 
men of the town, did not fulfill the purpose of their elec- 
tion. So at a meeting September 21, 1747, nearly a year 
later, they were commanded to "pull down the old meeting- 
house forthwith." In order to clear the way for the ac- 
complishment of this purpose, Doctor Chase and James 
Wason were chosen to "notify Massachusetts and Pelham 
with the Town's interest." 

This committee, for some reason failing to succeed, 
November 21, 1747, it was "Voted to impower the com- 
mittee formerly chosen to treat with Pelham and the Mas- 
sachusetts Province which once belonged to Nottingham, 
to agree with the several proprietors belonging to said 
meeting house." Still unsuccessful, May 18, 1748, the 
town chose Ezekiel Chase, Esq., Mr. John Marshall and 
Mr. John Marsh "a committee to treat with the proprietors 
who are interested in the old meeting house who belong to 
Pelham and the Massachusetts Province." 

In the meantime action was being taken towards build- 
ing another house, as will be explained further on, and at 



THE FIRST MEETING-HOUSE 191 

the first town meeting held in this new church building, 
August 31, 1748, it was 

Voted to remove the seats and pulpit & D n (Deacon) seat out of ye 
old meeting house & place ym in the new house, and put up some of the 
old glass windows. Chose Mr. George Burns, Mr. John Marshall, & Dea- 
con Roger Chase a committee to effect ye foregoing work. 

October 26, 1748, Capt. Thomas Colburn, Samuel Bur- 
bank and James Marsh were chosen to "pull up the old 
floor in the old meeting house, and the breast work, and 
take out the nails." 

At a town meeting, January 30, 1749 

A unanimous vote was passed to give the old meeting house, all that 
is remaining, excepting window frames, casements & Glass & Pews, (ie) 
all their right and interest in and to the same, Excepting what is before 
Excepted, as a Present to the Rev. Mr. Merrill, his heirs and assigns. 

With this action the records of the town close, as far 
as it was concerned in the old meeting-house, but the his- 
tory of the old building is revived in the Town Records of 
Pelham, where on March 6, 1748-9, it was "Voted to buy 
the Nottingham West meeting house of Mr. Merrill," and 
April 10, 1749, a committee was chosen to take down the 
old structure and remove it to Pelham "by a work rate." 
Still no immediate action seems to have been taken, for 
two and one-half years later, October 2, 1751, it was again 
voted to remove the house. Two weeks later the town 
"Voted to board and shingle the meeting house with con- 
venient speed." This indicates that in the interval the 
building had been moved, and that an effort was being 
made to finish it. This was duly accomplished, and the 
building was occupied as a meeting-house in Pelham until 
1785, or fifty-one years from the date of its being built in 
1734. 

At a meeting in Pelham, May 27, 1789, it was voted to 
sell the old meeting-house at public vendue, "in such a 
way and manner as shall be thought most likely to fetch its 
full value, in order to pay the town debts." With this pa- 
thetic closing of a checkered career, the history of the pio- 
neer meeting-house in Hudson is brought to an end. 



CHAPTER XVI 

The Second Meeting-House 

Very soon after the incorporation of the town of Not- 
tingham West, in 1746, the question of building a new 
meeting-house, in order to satisfy the requirements of the 
altered situation of the inhabitants, began to be agitated. 
The same difficulty was met in regard to settling the ques- 
tion of the best location, as had to be considered in the 
Selection of the site of the first house of worship. At a 
to eeting October 20, 1746, it was 

Voted to choose Major Zaccheus Lovewell, Doct. Ezekiel Chase, 
John Marshall, James Hills, 13enj a Frost a committee, with Colonel, 
Blanchard. to find the center up and dpwn of this Town. 

Voted to choose Samuel Huston and William Taylor chairmen for 
the same purpose. 

The committee seemed to have attended to its duty 
promptly, for on November 24, another town meeting was 
held, at which the committee reported "That the center, 
up and down of this Town, is on the North Easterly side 
of Mr. Benjamin Whittemore's Lot, and on the East side 
of the way that leads to Litchfield. * * * * The Town 
viewed the said place and marked several Pine trees on 
said spot and voted said place to erect a meeting house on." 

January 12, 1747, it was "voted to build a meeting- 
house forty feet long and twenty-six feet in width." 

Chose Capt. Thomas Colhurn, Major Zaccheus Lovewell, John Marsh, 
John Marshall, Kleazer Cummings, James Hills, George Burns a commit- 
tee to effeet the same. 

From some cause, probably from not being provided 
with the necessa y funds, the committee did not perform 
the duty for which it was chosen; and at a meeting Sep- 
tember 21, 1747, the old concern of getting a satisfactory 
location again came to the front. 
192 



THE SECOND MEETING-HOUSE 193 

It was again voted to find the "center of land and 
travel in this Town." A committee was chosen consisting 
of Dr. Ezekiel Chase, James Hills, Benjamin Frost, with 
George Burns and James Wason as chainmen. Two months 
later a meeting was held, the second article in the warrant 
reading, "In relation to viewing the center of land and cen- 
ter of travel in this Town." 

Nothing definite was accomplished and the matter was 
"adjourned." Another meeting was held June 1, 1748, 
when it was 

Voted to purchase the uper meeting house in sd Town at the value 
of 80^ old tenor. 

Voted to raise 80^ old tenor to purchase sd meeting house. 

Made choice of Capt. Thomas Colburn, Mr. John Marshall, Mr. 
James Hills, Mr. George Burns, Mr. Stephen Chase a committee to pull 
down and remove said meetinghouse and to erect the same at some suit- 
able and convenient place, and to effect the same at or before the first 
day of July next. 

Voted that the committee shall give every man belonging to this 
Town liberty to work at pulling down and removing sd house. 

Voted that every man who shall work faithfully at the same 10 hours 
in a day and find himself, shall be allowed 20s. old tenor ptr Diem, and 
that the same shall be allowed for four oxen and a cart, as for a man, 
they working faithfully. 

The last committee chosen attended to the duties, 
and removed the meeting-house according to the instruc- 
tions it had received from the town, as the next town 
meeting, August 31, 1748, was held at the meeting-house. 

As has been mentioned, the town meetings, subsequent 
to the incorporation of Nottingham West, had been held at 
the house of Benjamin Whittemore, with one or two ex- 
ceptions, when the citizens met at the house of Samuel 
Greeley. 

The "uper meeting house," which was purchased from 
the proprietors, was the "Hills Farms" meeting-house. 
Tradition points to this as being the first house of worship 
built in what is now the town of Hudson, and as ante-dating 
the house built by the town in 1734, as already described. 
The following extracts from a petition to the General 



194 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Court, made in 1742, and signed by John Taylor and four- 
teen others, inhabitants of Nottingham, and Nathaniel Hills 
and sixteen other inhabitants of Litchfield, proves that 
tradition, in this case, is at fault : 

That your petitioners, after a meeting house was built in Notting- 
ham, and before any was built in Litchfield, erected a meeting house for 
the public worship of God, where both we and our families might attend 
upon God in his house, and since that, another meeting house has been 
set up in Litchfield ***** And your petitioners have for some con- 
siderable time maintained and supported the public worship of God 
among us at our cost and charge. * * * Your petitioners therefore do hum- 
bly pray that we may be erected into a township, there being a sufficient 
tract of land in the Northerly part of Nottingham and the Southerly part 
of Litchfield to make a compact Town, without any prejudice to the 
towns of Nottingham or Litchfield. . . . 

This proves beyond any question that the Nottingham 
meeting-house was the first erected. The "Hills Farms" 
meeting-house was located about twelve or fifteen rods 
easterly of the present highway known as the Derry road. 
It was situated near the southerly line of land owned now 
by Pearl T. Thomas. The site was long covered with a 
growth of pine timber and wood, the greater part of which 
was cut a few years since. The writer, after considerable 
search, identified the location by numerous small pieces of 
stones, which were chips from the foundation of the ancient 
building, when it was removed. These bits of stones are 
quite small, but are unlike any others found in that imme- 
diate vicinity. 

The committee chosen to carry out the wishes of the 
town located the house, constructed from the timber of the 
"Hills Farms" building, upon the site voted by the town 
November 24, 1746. This was on the "North Easterly 
side of Mr. Benjamin Whittemore's Lot and on the East 
side of the way that leads to Litchfield." This site was 
very near the spot upon which old Number Four school 
house stood for many years prior to 1852, when it was de- 
molished, and was on the north side of the highway, the 
old Blodgett cemetery on the east, north and west sides, 



THE SECOND MEETING-HOUSE 195 

and was but a short distance from where the present iron 
gate of the cemetery is located. 

At the first meeting held in the unfinished meeting- 
house, August 31, 1748, it was 

Voted to lay the lower floor of the meeting house, and to hang the 
doors, and to underpin the frame, to board up the upper windows, and to 
remove the seats, pulpit and Deacon seat out of ye old meeting house 
and place ym in the new house; and to put up some of the old glass 
windows, all of which is to be done ys fall. 

Chose Mr. Geoige Burns, Mr. John Marshall & Deacon Roger Chase 
a committee to effect ye foregoing work. 

Voted to have built a tier of Pews in ye front of ye meeting house. 

Samuel Greeley, Ezekiel Chase, Thos. Colburn, Henry Hills, Ed- 
ward Spaulding & Timothy Emerson were chosen a committee to appraise 
the Pews and order their shapes. 

Voted that the highest in pay for one pole and other estate for the 
present year and two years back shall have his first choice in the highest 
priced Pew ground; and so downward, the next highest in pay his next 
choice, and so till the Pews are all disposed of; and in case any person 
is intitlled to a Pew he shall have the Pew that falls to him by pay or 
none; and every person who shall have a pew shall build it in 12 months 
and pay his money to the committee in 2 months from the time he re- 
ceives his grant of ye same, otherwise he shall forfeit his right to said Pew. 

The work on the house seems to have progressed with 
satisfactory results, and October 26, 1748, the town 

Voted to put up the stairs, put in the slit work, and lay the Gallery 
floors, and bring the slit work and the old floors and the breast work to 
the place (from the old meeting house) and to put up the breast work, all 
to be done this fall. 

Mr. John Marshall, Mr. George Burns, & Lt Joseph Winn made 
choice of as a committee to effect the same. 

The town also voted to straighten or turn the road by or nearer the 
meeting house. 

Also voted to allow horse stables built on the Town's land near the 
meeting house. 

The land upon which this building stood, including the 
Blodgett cemetery, and all the "common" near the center 
of which once stood the "South Meeting House," so called, 
and also including the three roads surrounding the common 
and called "Town's Land" in the records, was a part of 
the Benjamin Whittemore farm, and was probably con- 



196 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

veyed by him to the town about this time, in 1748. The 
record of the deed, however, has not been found. There 
must have been four or five acres in the lot. 

The next item of record referring to the work on the 
meeting-house was April 24, 1749, when it was 

Voted to clapboard the meeting house, and put the window frames 
and the old glass this year & chose John Marshall, Blodgett, En- 
sign Chase & Ebenezer Dakin a committee to efect the same. 

Voted to allow Joseph Winn Jr. & Benjamin Winn the privilege of 
building two Pews over the stairs, in case they will take it for their right 
and interest in the meeting house. 

Among the bills allowed by a vote of the town at this 
meeting, was one of 13£ 10s Od, old tenor, to Benjamin Winn 
and Ebenezer Blodgett for making the pediments for the 
meeting-honse. The dimensions of this building are not 
given in the records, but it was probably smaller than the 
old Nottingham meeting-house, which was forty by thirty- 
five feet. It had three outside doors, one respectively on 
the south, east and west side. 

There was a gallery, probably on these same sides, and 
of sufficient width to allow two rows of seats in front with 
a passage-way in the rear. 

Pew lots were granted, one each, to Ezekiel Chase, 
Joseph Winn, Thomas Pollard, Edward Spaulding, Deacon 
Samuel Greeley, Joseph Blodgett, Samuel Merrill, Jr., and 
possibly others. The prices paid were from seven pounds, 
two shillings to eight pounds, fifteen shillings each, old 
tenor. 

The next matter that came in for consideration was the 
selection and permit of lots for horse sheds, and April 6, 
1752, the following action was taken: 

Voted to allow to Capt. Thomas Colburn and Ensign Stephen Chase 
the first lot from the south west corner of the meeting house to build a 
horse stable on; also voted to Lieut. Joseph Winn and Thomas Pollard 
the second lot; also voted to George Burns and Samuel Burbank the 3d 
lot; also voted to Ebenezer Dakin and Joseph Gould the 4th lot. 

The town also voted and allowed to Eleazer Cummings and James 
Hills the first lot North west from the meeting house; also voted to Jo- 



THE SECOND MEETING-HOUSE 197 

siah Cummings and Ezekiel Hills the second lot; also voted to Abraham 
Page and Henry Hale the 3d lot; also voted to Isaac Page and Ebenezer 
Cummings the 4th lot. 

The town also voted and allowed to Thomas Kenney and Benj* 
Snow the first lot south east from the meeting house. 

It was the custom in those times to have a burying 
ground for the interment of the dead in the rear, and on 
two sides of the meeting-house. The custom was carried 
out here, and what became known as the Blodgett ceme- 
tery was laid out upon the east, north and west sides of the 
house, in the rear of the horse sheds. The most ancient 
inscriptions upon the head stones in that cemetery, record 
deaths of persons in 1748 or 1749. 

Very little reference to the meeting-house is to be 
found in the town records for several years, giving the infer- 
ence that the people were satisfied with what had been done. 
The building stood at a central point between the north 
and south boundaries, but it was very near its western lim- 
its. Eventually this fact was the cause of complaint, as the 
opposite section of the town began to be more thickly pop- 
ulated. Finally a town meeting was held Sepember 16, 
1760, to consider the matter of a new location 

It was put to vote to see if the town would vote to move the meet- 
ing house to the center of the town. 

Voted in the Negative. 

It was put to vote to see if the town would abate the Easterly part 
of the town of any part of their rates yearly, on account of their extraor- 
dinary travel to the meeting house. 

Voted in the Negative. 

It was put to vote to see if the town would repair the meeting house. 

Voted in the Negative. 

There was possibly a squaring of accounts in the settle- 
ment of the sentiments of the voters in the above actions, 
and the demands of dissatisfied parties increased in power, 
so at a meeting held November 11, an appeal was made to 
outsiders to settle the matter: 

The town chose Capt. William Richardson of Pelham, Capt. Caleb 
Page of Dunbarton, aud Mr. Ebenezer Kendall of Dunstable a committee 



198 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

to view the town in its present situation in regard to said meeting house 
where it now standeth, and if they judge it unreasonable, fix a place to 
move said meetinghouse to, or to erect a new one on. 

Chose Serg. Daniel Merrill, Ensign PIzekiel Hills and Mr. Henry 
Snow to assist the committee in viewing this town. 

The above committee reported in writing December 
18, 1760 "That they had viewed the said town carefully, 
and taken all useful means to inform themselves as to its 
present situation in regard to the said meeting house, and 
are fully of the opinion that for the good of said town in 
their present situation, the meeting house should stand 
where it now does, or otherwise to erect a new one in the 
place where the old one stands." 

This report was accepted, but when a vote was taken 
August 22, 1761, to see if the old house should be repaired, 
a negative vote was given. A special meeting was then 
called to convene the 24th of September, "To see if the 
Town will erect a new meeting house or in case the Town 
do not erect a new meeting house, to see if the Pew men 
will give up their rights in the seats. ... To see if the 
Town will repair the present meeting house and how far 
they will proceed in repairing said meeting house." 

It was voted not to build a new house, but to repair 
the old one, a committee was chosen and forty pounds, old 
tenor, was voted to meet the expense. But this received 
such a decided opposition, that it was 

Voted to reconsider the above vote in respect to raising the sum to 
repair the meeting house and dismissed the committee chosen for the 
purpose. 

It was put to vote to see if the town would seat the meeting house 
for three years. 

Voted in the affirmative, and chose a committee of five "to effect the 
same." 

Eight of the Pew Men agreed to yield up their rights in the seats. 

Voted to grant a number of young men : viz. Nathaniel Merrill, Ter- 
tius, William Merrill, John Caldwell Jr. Levi Spalding, Benjamin Messer, 
Eleazer Cummings Jr. to build a Pew in the back of the meeting house, in 
the front of the Gallery. 



THE SECOND MEETING-HOUSE 199 

The matter rested here for over three years, a window, 
in the meantime being "set up over the pulpit," and then 
the agitation for a new house or removal of the old one be- 
gan. November 19, 1764, 

Voted to make choice of a surveyor and chairman to find the center 
of land in this town, and that they shall be under oath. 

Voted to choose Matthew Patten Esq. of Bedford, surveyor, to find 
said center of land. 

Voted and chose three persons to assist the said surveyor to carry 
the chain and Keep Tally, namely, Lt. Joseph Senter, Winkel Wright, 
both of Dunstable, and Mr. Benjamin Barker of Pelham ; and also voted 
that it shall be done by flat measure, meaning the chain on the ground. 

It was put to vote to see if the Town would build a meeting house, 
and that it shall be set in the center of land, or in the first convenient 
place from the center. 

Voted in the affirmative. 

The town chose seven men to carry out the purpose 
of building a meeting-house, viz.: Henry Hills, Joseph 
Gould, Seth Wyman, Samuel Page, Samuel Marsh, Samuel 
Greeley, Jr., and Daniel Merrill. 

This was a strong committee, representing all sections 
of the town, but it did not build a meeting-house at the 
center of land or at any other place. After considerable 
controversy in relation to the payment of the expense of 
the survey by the surveyor and chainman and tally keeper, 
amounting to ,£45-7s-9d silver, old tenor, or ;£6-ls-0d-2f 
lawful money, it was finally voted to settle the account at 
a meeting April 21, 1766. The survey was made in Feb- 
ruary, 1765, over a year before. 

Two years more the matter dragged along, and then, 
September 26, 1768, it was attempted again to raise money 
to make repairs, but was voted in the negative. 

March 30, 1778, almost ten years after the above vote, 
it was decided to sell the old meeting-house, and Moses 
Johnson, Ezekiel Hills, Capt. Samuel Marsh, Asa Davis, 
Esq., and Capt. Abraham Page were chosen a committee 
to act for the town. 



200 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Until then the town meetings had been held here, but 
on June 24, 1778, it was "Voted to hold the town meetings 
at the Rev. Mr. Strickland's meeting house for the future." 

The Rev. John Strickland was at that time the pastor 
of the Presbyterian church, having been ordained July 3, 
1774, and he was preaching at the North meeting-house, 
which was built by the proprietors belonging to that socie- 
ty in 1771. The committee chosen to sell the old meeting- 
house evidently attended to their duties without much de- 
lay, for at a meeting held at the North meeting-house Feb- 
ruary 1, 1779, it was 

Voted that the money that the old meeting house was sold for 
should be turned into the Town Treasury by the committee that sold it. 

This was the last meeting-house built by the town. 
The records are silent as to who bought the old building, 
or the amount received for it. After its purchase and re- 
moval by the town in 1748, and its reconstruction here, it 
had stood for thirty years with very little repairs, and it 
must have been in very poor condition at the time it was 
sold. 

The writer has heard it said by people of that vicinity, 
who were long since deceased, that the old Number One 
school house, which stood upon the same site as the pres- 
ent school house, was partly constructed from timber taken 
from the old meeting-house. This is probably true, and, if 
so, some of the material that entered into the construction 
of the "Hills Farms" meeting-house in 1735, continued to 
serve most worthy purposes for nearly one hundred and 
fifty years. 

The pastor of this second meeting-house in Hudson 
was the Rev. Nathaniel Merrill, who was ordained and set- 
tled here by the town November 30, 1737, and whose civil 
contract with the town continued until July 11, 1774, when 
it was dissolved. But he continued to preach in the old house 
until about the time it was sold and removed. The wor- 
shipers here were Congregationalists, and Mr. Merrill had 
a large and devoted following, and later, for many years, he 



THE SECOND MEETING-HOUSE 201 

held services in the south part of the town, in a meeting- 
house called in the town records "Mr. Merrill's meeting- 
house," and later known as the "Old Gospel Shop." 

The second meeting-house, formerly the "Hills Farms" 
meeting-house, was sold in 1778 by the committee chosen 
for that purpose, and the proceeds turned into the town 
treasury, as has been shown, but the records do not inform 
us farther as to its later history or ultimate fate. 

However, we believe there is very little room for 
doubt that it was purchased at the time of its sale by Rev. 
Mr. Merrill and his Congregational followers. That it was 
taken down the second time and removed to the south part 
of the town, when it was rebuilt as early as 1779. 

At the annual town meeting, March 6, 1780, the war- 
rant contained the following article: 

To see if the town will agree to have one third of the Town meetings 
held at the Rev. Mr. Merrills meetinghouse for the future. 

The vote was in the negative, but as a compromise it 
was "Voted to have the town meetings held at the house 
of Samuel Greeley one-half of the time for the year en- 
suing." 

The exact location of this building is not known at the 
present time ; but it is certain that it was east of the high- 
way, on the high ground a little southerly, but not far from 
the small, ancient burying ground, some distance south of 
Musquash or Nacook Brook, and on land then owned by 
Moses Johnson, and later by the Fords. 

Mr. Merrill continued to preach there until near the 
time of his death in 1796. 



CHAPTER XVII 

The Presbyterian and the North Meeting-House 

Londonderry was settled by Presbyterians of Scotch 
origin, who came hither from the north of Ireland in April, 
1719, and the town was incorporated by the Province of 
New Hampshire July 1, 1722. 

The south-west angle of Londonderry, as bounded by 
its charter, was within less than two miles of the Merri- 
mack River, in a north-easterly direction from Taylor's 
Falls bridge. This brought about four thousand and six 
hundred acres of land within the present bounds of Hud- 
son, which were later annexed from Londonderry. 

Nottingham was settled by Orthodox, or Congrega- 
tionalists, but in a few years, owing to its close proximity 
to Londonderry, many Presbyterians became inhabitants 
of the township, and several of these were among its most 
prominent and substantial citizens. 

These two sects, while their religious tenets were 
nearly identical, differed in their form of church govern- 
ment. The Congregationalists looked to the town for sup- 
port of their minister, and an amount equal to the pastor's 
salary was levied annually upon all the polls and estates 
within the limits of the town. The meeting-house was 
built and kept in repair by the town. The Rev. Nathaniel 
Merrill, the minister already mentioned as the head of 
the Congregational Church, was ordained and settled 
by the town of Nottingham in 1737, and received his sal- 
ary from the same source until in 1774. The Presby- 
terians were assessed equally, according to the value of 
their estates, with the members of the other church. Some 
of the Presbyterians attended meetings of their own de- 
nomination in Londonderry or Windham, where they paid 
their proportion of the minister's tax. It was but natural 
202 



THE PRESBYTERIAN AND NORTH MEETING-HOUSE 203 

these people should honestly believe they were being ac- 
corded unjust treatment, when they were obliged to pay a 
part of Mr. Merrill's salary. So there were protests en- 
tered against this method of taxation, and the records, from 
time to time, contain accounts of action in that direction. 
At a meeting of the town July 7, 1749: 

Voted to release John Huey, James Caldwell, James Wason, John 
Caldwell, the Widow Mitchell and Josiah Cummings who are profest 
Churchmen from paying their Town and Minister's rate the year, 1748 

May 15, 1750, It was put to vote to see if the town would make 
choice of one man or more to prosecute the affair relating to the pretend- 
ed Churchmen. Viz: Joseph Caldwell, John Caldwell & James Wason, 
and it passed in the Negative. 

August 22, 1750. The town and John Caldwell agreed to leave their 
case to three indifferent men. The town and said Caldwell chose Capt. 
Andrew Todd of Londonderry their first man. The town chose Lt. John 
Varnum of Dracut, for their man, and Mr. Caldwell chose Dea. James 
Campbell for his man. 

November 18, 1751, a year and a half later, the town 
voted to release Messrs. Caldwell and Wason from paying 
their rates for the year 1750. Nothing more in regard to 
differences of this kind appears on the records for nearly 
twelve years, when trouble seems to have arisen again, as 
witness the following action taken at a town meeting held 
on March 1, 1763: 

It was put to vote to see if the town would release and discharge 
those persons belonging to this Town who call themselves Presbyterians, 
and claim to be exempt from paying the Minister's Rate as assessed, their 
proportion thereof. 

Voted in the negative. 

It was put to vote to see if the Town would discharge said persons 
from paying for their poles to said Minister's Rate their proportion as 
assessed. 

Voted in the Negative. 

It was put to vote to see if the Town would join with Pelham to dis- 
pute with those persons in the law belonging to their respective Towns, 
who call themselves Presbyterians, and refuse to pay their Rates as as- 
sessed to the support of the ministry in'said Towns, in case they should 
prosecute and pursue an action against said Towns, 

Voted in the Affirmative. 



204 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Chose Daniel Marshall and Samuel Marsh, to act in behalf of this 
Town for the defense against said Presbyterians if there be occasion 
therefor. 

The Town voted to raise 200 pounds old tenor to enable them or 
others to dispute with said Presbyterians in the law and defray the charge 
thereof. 

The two last votes were reconsidered at a meeting 
held September 21, 1763, and at the same date it was 
voted "to order the constable for the year 1762, to pursue 
such measures as the law directs, to collect the Minister's 
Rate (so called as assessed) from such persons as profess 
themselves Presbyterians and refuse paying to the support 
of the Rev. Mr. Merrill in the Ministry." 

This was voted in the affirmative and "Ezekiel Chase 
Esq. & Mr. Samuel Marsh (in behalf of the Town) to dis- 
pute with said persons in the law, in case they should pros- 
ecute and pursue an action against the Town Constable or 
Selectmen thereof." 

Voted to raise ,£200 old tenor for said committee to enable them to 
dispute with said persons as aforesaid. 

A compromise was then attempted between the two 
parties, by which to remove the poll tax, and collect that 
on the estates. The dissenters refused to accept these 
terms, when they were asked what terms they would con- 
sider, they replied that if the church and town would 
comply with the Cambridge platform they would pay their 
proportion of the minister's tax. Action was then taken 
to see if the town would reconsider the vote passed Sep- 
tember 21, to order the constable for 1762 to collect the 
minister's rate of those parties refusing to pay, and the mo- 
tion to reconsider was carried. "It was then put to vote 
to see if the Town would release and discharge them from 
paying their proportion of said Rate. Voted in the Nega- 
tive." 

The Presbyterians gained ground in their protests, 
and on September 25, 1764, it was voted to excuse them 
from being obliged to pay towards the support of the Rev. 






THE PRESBYTERIAN AND NORTH MEETING-HOUSE 205 

Mr. Merrill, "this present year," and when it was tried to 
reconsider this action at the next town meeting November 
19, the effort failed. But March 31, 176(5, when an at- 
tempt was made to exempt "those persons who are of the 
Presbyterian persuasion" from helping to support the 
Congregational minister for the years 1762, as assessed. 
"It was then put to vote to see if the Town would raise 
;£20 lawful money to pursue the affair of their being pros- 
ecuted by the constable for their rates at the next Inferior 
Court Voted in the Negative." 

April 21, 1766, an attempt was made to choose a com- 
mittee to treat with Captain Page, James Wason and James 
Caldwell in regard to the payment of their minister's rate 
for 1762, but this effort failed. October 27, "It was put 
to vote to see if the Town would raise any money to enable 
the selectmen for the year 1762, to defend and carry on a 
law suit, commenced and carried on by Capt. Abraham 
Page and James Wason against said selectmen, or settling 
the same in law Voted in the Negative." 

February 24, 1767, Capt. Abraham Page, moderator, 
the question was again before the voters to see if they 
would vote to raise money to defray the charges of Samuel 
Greeley, Ephraim Cummings and Capt. Samuel Marsh, the 
selectmen who had answered Capt. Abraham Page and 
Mr. James Wason in their suit against the town, relative 
to their minister's rates. It was voted in the negative. 
Neither would the town vote to raise any sum of money to 
continue the suit. 

Here the matter rested until October 9, 1769, when it 
was voted to excuse "those persons that are Presbyterians 
and attend upon that order from being rated to the minis- 
ter's rate in this town." This victory was made more com- 
plete October 2, 1770, when the minister's rate for 1768 
of Capt. Abraham Page, Asa Davis, James Wason and 
Robert Stewart was abated. There was an article in the 
warrant at this town meeting;. 



206 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

To see if the Town will pass a vote to have but one sermon per day 
from the first of December to the last of February this present year. 
The article was dismissed. 

The last day of the same year the town voted to pay 
back to Captain Page and James Wason their minister's 
rates for 1767 and their charges, these gentlemen having 
threatened to sue the town for the same. It was also voted 
at this same meeting to abate Robert Stewart's minister's 
rates for 1767. The following persons were dismissed from 
paying a minister's tax for that year: Capt. Abraham 
Page, James Wason, Asa Davis, Timothy Emerson, Sam- 
uel Wason, Robert Stewart, Robert Glover, Nehemiah 
Hadley, Thomas Wason, Simeon Eayrs, Joseph Wilson, 
excepting one head to Timothy Emerson. 

At the annual town meeting March 12, 1771, the war- 
rant contained an article, 

To see if the Town will vote to pay Mr. Ephraim Cummings the ex- 
traordinary charge he was at in carrying on a Law suit at court upon a 
review of a cause with Capt. Abraham Page in ye Towns behalf. 

The article was dismissed by a vote of those present. 

This year the Presbyterians built a house of worship 
for themselves, and in Vol. 43, page 32, of Hillsborough 
County Registry of Deeds, is the following description of 
the land purchased for the site of this meeting-house: 

Know all men by these presents that I Henry Hale of Nottingham 
West, in the Province of New Hampshire in New England, Husband- 
man : In consideration of two pounds lawful money to me in hand paid 
before the delivery hereof by Capt. Abraham Page, David Peabody, Hugh 
Smith, Joseph Wilson and Asa Davis of Nottingham West, and Province 
aforesaid, appointed a committee for building a meeting house on said 
premises, have given, granted, bargained and sold, and do by these pres- 
ents give, grant, bargain, sell, alien, and fully, freely and absolutely convey 
and confirm unto them, the Said Capt. Page, Peabody, Smith, Wilson, 
Davis, their heirs and assigns forever: a certain piece of land in Notting- 
ham West, containing about twenty-three square rods bounded as follow- 
eth : Viz: — Beginning at a stake and stones by the Town road: thence 
North-easterly by said road thirteen rods to a stake and stones : and 
thence West 13 degrees South ten rods to a stake and stones, and from 
thence South five rods to the bound first mentioned. 



THE PRESBYTERIAN AND NORTH MEETING-HOUSE 207 

To Have and to hold 

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this fif- 
teenth day of December, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven 
hundred and seventy. 

(Signed) HENRY HALE £seal] 

Sigived sealed and 
delivered in presence of 
Henry Hale, Jr. 

Her 
Elizabeth X Hale 
Mark 

The meeting-house erected upon the foregoing lot, was 
built in 1771, and it stood very near the spot now occupied 
by the Hudson Town House. It was a building about 50 
feet long and 30 feet wide. The pulpit was at the north 
side, about the middle. It was quite high and was ap- 
proached by stairs. There was a large sounding board over 
the pulpit. The house had two rows of windows, and a 
gallery on three sides, the east, south and west. The front 
door was opposite the pulpit, and the broad aisle extended 
from one to the other. Alleys led from this broad aisle in 
each direction and around the outside of the body of pews. 

The pews were nearly square, with seats on three 
sides. During prayer, as well as singing, the people were 
always expected to rise and stand. Then they would turn 
up the seats, which would make a great noise all over the 
room. The noise would be repeated with greater intensity 
when the seats were turned down at the close of the ser- 
vice. Two seats were arranged for the deacons and elders, 
directly in front and near the pulpit, where these officers 
sat facing the audience. 

The gallery was quite broad and built on an incline. 
To reach the gallery there was a porch at the center of 
each end, large enough to contain the stairs, which were 
constructed in the porches, and thus saved much room in 
the body of the house, as well as in the gallery. The sing- 
ers sat in that part of the gallery opposite the pulpit. 

The North meeting-house had no bell or belfry, and 
was never painted. It had no chimney, and of course there 



208 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

was no way of heating the building. Many of the women, 
during the cold weather, carried foot stoves with coals in 
them for heat. They would sometimes replenish them at 
a neighbor's house during the intermission hour at noon. 
Sometimes, in a very cold day, the minister would preach 
with "great" coat and mittens on. Stoves were introduced 
about 1830. 

The services in those days consisted of two sermons 
of at least an hour's duration each, with singing several 
times, and three or four long prayers, which, with the noon 
intermission, consumed four or five hours of time. 

It is related that at the raising of the frame of the 
North meeting-house, a man by the name of Campbell fell 
from one of the plates to the ground and was rendered un. 
conscious. He was carried to the house of Deacon Henry 
Hale, which was later the old Reuben Greeley place, a part 
of the house now standing. A sheep was immediately 
killed and the hide removed as quickly as possible, and the 
injured man was wrapped closely in the hide, flesh side in. 
But this treatment did no good, and he lived only a short 
time. This incident was told by the writer's grandmother, 
Sarah Hale, granddaughter of Dea. Henry Hale, born 
April 20, 1767, and who married Eleazer Cummings. 

The Rev. John Strickland was probably the first Pres- 
byterian minister to preach in the new house, built in 1771, 
but the exact date at which he came to town is not known. 
But the town records show that he was paid a salary by 
his parishioners in 1773. He was ordained and settled 
over the Presbyterian church July 3, 1774, and he contin- 
ued in that position for more than ten years, when he was 
dismissed in 1785, and he removed from town. 

The matter of minister's tax was still a mooted ques- 
tion in affairs of the town, and at a meeting about three 
years after the North meeting-house was built by the Pres- 
byterians, the following action was taken by the town : 

Voted that all the Inhabitants of this Town that are not assessed to 
the Presbyterians should be proportionately assessed so much as they, the 



THE PRESBYTERIAN AND NORTH MEETING-HOUSE 209 

said Presbyterians paid to Mr. Strickland in ye year 1773. Towards com- 
pleting the sum of two hundred dollars to the Rev. Mr. Merrill, and what 
shall be wanting when said assessment is made, to complete said sum, 
then to be assessed in equal proportion upon the whole town. 
Voted in the affirmative. 

In March, 1778, about 4,600 acres of the southerly- 
part of Londonderry was annexed to Nottingham West, 
and the residents upon these lands became citizens of the 
latter town. They numbered more than thirty families, 
the majority of whom were Presbyterians, and had given 
material aid in the building of the North meeting-house, 
and support of its pastor. 

The last town meeting held at the second Congrega- 
tional meeting-house was on March 30, 1778. The suc- 
ceeding meeting, held June 24, 1778, was at the house of 
James Pemberton, who lived near by. After that the town 
meetings were held at the North meeting-house until 1780, 
when, for that year and 1781, a part of them were called at 
the house of Samuel Greeley, "Innholder." May 13, 1782, 

Voted to have half of the town meetings this year at the house of 
Timothy Smith. 

A similar vote was passed March 16, 1784. 

There is no record to show that the town raised any 
money for preaching from the time of the final settlement 
with Mr. Merrill in 1774, until March 5, 1787, when it was 
voted to raise sixty pounds for that purpose, and that 
twenty-five of it should be paid to Mr. Merrill, and the bal- 
ance to be laid out at the North meeting-house, and that 
the selectmen be a committee to procure preaching ac- 
cordingly. 

Henry Hale, who sold the lot for the North meeting- 
house, lived on the Greeley place at what is now Hudson 
Center. He owned a large tract of land in that vicinity, 
was deacon of the Congregational church, and prominent 
in the town's affairs. 

It does not appear upon the town records that the 
Presbyterians alone ever employed a minister of their own 



210 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

denomination in this town after the dismissal of Mr. Strick- 
land, until after the two churches were united in 1816. 

In each of the years of 1787 and 1788, the town "Vot- 
ed to raise ,£60 for preaching this year, and that £2b of it 
be paid to Mr. Merrill and £%h to be laid out at the North 
meeting-house." A committee was chosen to secure 
preaching. 

Again the matter of location of a meeting-house be- 
came a paramount question, and at a town meeting Decem- 
ber 15, 1788, the fourth article in the warrant read: 

To see if the Town can agree upon a place or places for the meeting 
house to stand on in order for the Public Worship of God. 

A committee of ten persons was chosen to take this 
matter into consideration and report at the next annual 
meeting in March. This committee consisted of Mr. 
Moses Johnson, Capt. William Burns, Dea. Isaac Merrill, 
Maj. James Ford, Capt. David Cummings, Capt. David 
Peabody, Ens. David Lawrence, Lieut. Thomas Smith, Mr. 
Daniel Marshall and Ens. Isaac Barrett. 

This committee reported at an adjourned meeting on 
April 6, 1789, and this report was accepted. 

REPORT OF COMMITTEE TO LOCATE A MEETING HOUSE. 

The Committee chosen by the Town to agree upon ye place or places 
for the meeting house or houses to stand on, beg leave to report: — That 
they have carefully searched for ye tenter of ye Town and find it half a 
mile and twenty rods in a straight line and Sou t hardly pinte distant from 
the North meeting house, — and we consider the present situation and cir- 
cumstances of the Town. We judge that the North meeting house place 
is at present the most convenient place, and we considering the disadvan- 
tage that a number of the inhabitants of the lower end of the Town are 
under by reason of the great distance they are from meeting that one fifth 
part of the preaching may be at the lower end Meeting house the present 
year. 
Nottingham West April 6, 1789. 

David Lawrence, David Peabody, 

David Cummings, Moses Johnson, 

Thomas Smith, William Burns, 

Isaac Barret Isaac Merrill. 



THE PRESBYTERIAN AND NORTH MEETING-HOUSE 211 

It will be remembered that this was after the annexa- 
tion of a large tract of land with its inhabitants from the 
south part of Londonderry in 1778, which shifted the cen- 
ter of the town north nearly one and a half miles. 

The same amount of money was paid this year for 
preaching as had been raised in previous years, £25 to be 
paid to Mr. Merrill, and £35 to hire preaching on proba- 
tion, one-fifth of the latter sum to be sent to the south part 
of the town. George Burns, Page Smith, Capt. David 
Cummings, Ens. David Lawrence and Lieut. Ezekiel Hills 
were chosen a committee to attend to the settlement of 
this matter. 

January 18, 1790, it was voted 

That the committee chosen last March to hire preaching for this year 
agree with Mr. Scribner to preach out the money that was voted last 
March for preaching, what is behind. 

Voted and chose Capt. David Cummings Clerk to set the psalm at 
the North meeting house. 

Voted Moses Hadley Assistant Clerk. 

Voted and chose Mr. George Burroughs to read the psalm at the 
North meeting house. . . And Voted and chose Elder Samuel French 
Assistant. 

At a meeting March 1, 1790, it was voted not to raise 
any money to pay for preaching. Four weeks later, the 
29th of March, another meeting was held, at which it was 
put to vote "to see if the Town will meet at the center of 
travel that was found by the committee chosen Decem- 
ber 15, 1778." This was not carried, but the town voted to 
meet at the North meeting-house. 

"Voted to choose a committee of five to agree with 
the proprietors of the house, to see how they can procure 
said house and make their report on the adjournment of 
said meeting." 

Dea. Isaac Merrill, Page Smith, Timothy Smith, Ens. 
Isaac Barrett and Samuel Marsh, Esq., were selected to 
serve on this committee, when the meeting adjourned to 
April 12, at 2 o'clock p. m. At this meeting the commit- 
tee made the following report: 



212 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON PURCHASE OF NORTH 
MEETING HOUSE. 

We the subscribers being a committee chosen by the Town of Not- 
tingham West on the 29 day of March, 171*0, to agree with the proprie- 
tors of the North meeting house in said Town. We have proceeded ac- 
cordingly and agreed, that said Town of Nottingham West give good se- 
curity to the said proprietors of seventy pounds lawful money, to be paid 
in one year from the date hereof. 

And that the said proprietors give a good title to the said meeting 
house, and the land Deacon Henry Hale gave a deed of to said proprie- 
tors to set said house on, to the said Town of Nottingham West. 

Nottingham West April 12, 1790. 

Timothy Smith, Page Smith 

Samuel Marsh Committee. 

While this report was accepted, and the committee 
was continued to effect the termination of the transaction 
and obtain a title, for some reason, which the records do 
not disclose, the purchase was delayed. 

At this meeting it was "Voted to raise ,£25 for the 
support of Rev. Mr. Merrill 



CHAPTER XVIII 
Some Early Church History 

Five years of unsettled action in religious circles fol- 
lowed, during which the town records frequently speak of 
attempts to satisfy the citizens scattered over a sparsely 
settled community, and of efforts to obtain regular preach- 
ers. May 31, 1790, it was voted to extend a call to Rev. 
Matthew Scribner, but at an adjourned meeting this action 
was reconsidered. A few days later, June 21, twenty 
pounds was voted to hire a minister on probation, and a 
committee was chosen to carry this into effect. December 
30, ten pounds more was raised, and it was voted "the 
committee agree with Mr. Parrish to preach it out if he 
can be had." 

March 7, 1791, thirty pounds was voted to be paid 
some candidate, and April 11, it was the voice of the meet- 
ing that a call be extended to Mr. Ariel Parrish to settle in 
town, and that eighty pounds be paid him yearly "so long 
as he shall continue a Gospel minister in this town." Evi- 
dently this was not considered a sufficient inducement, for 
the next section contains the following record: 

Voted to give the said Parrish ,£120 as a settlement in the ministry 
in this Town to be paid as follows. Viz ^60 to be paid in one year, and 
;£60 in two years after he shall be settled in town. 

Voted that six Sabbaths of the preaching be allowed at the south 
meeting house, or in that proportion of what preaching shall be hired 
yearly. 

For some reason Mr. Parrish did not accept the offer, 
though he preached in town occasionally. 

December 20, Rev. Matthew Scribner was given a call, 
and a salary of eighty pounds yearly and thirty pounds at 
settlement was offered him, but he declined to come, or at 
least he was not settled. 

213 



214 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

At this meeting it was voted to raise forty pounds te> 
repair the North meeting-house, and Joseph B. Wilson, 
Page Smith and Henry Hale were made a committee to 
superintend the work. 

At a town meeting May 7, 1792, an article in the war- 
rant to see if the town would vote to give the Rev. John 
Strickland a call was dismissed, but June 4, fifteen pounds 
was voted to hire preaching. November 12, forty-five 
pounds was raised for preaching, and September 23, 1793, 
sixty pounds was voted for the same purpose, but no min- 
ister was designated. August 25, 1794, sixty pounds was 
again voted, and December 8, it was "Voted to hire Mr. 
Thompson four sabbaths more." 

August 24, 1795, twenty pounds was the sum fixed to 
pay for preaching, and Mr. Foster was the choice for a 
minister. On December 14, it was voted to extend a call 
to Mr. Jabez Pond Fisher to settle in the town, forty-seven 
voting in the affirmative, and apparently outnumbering the 
opposition. As a settlement in the ministry he was voted 
$400, and $270 a year "so long as he is able to perform the 
ministry in this town." Then it was 

Voted to raise ,£60 to hire preaching and that the selectmen be a 
committee to lay it out. 

Nottingham West, Dec. 14, 1795. 
We whose names are underwritten are informed that said town of 
Nottingham West are about voting to give Mr. Jabez Pond Fisher a call 
to settle in the ministry in this town in the Congregationalist order, we 
do detest against paying any part of his settlement or salary, or money 
that is voted to support that order, as we profess to be of a different pro- 
fession, and pray that this detest may be entered on the Town Book of 
Records in said town. 

Hugh Smith, Jr. John Heseltine 

David Cummings Jr. David Cummings 

Samuel Ditson Moses Wason 

Samuel Caldwell Robert Douglass 

Asa Davis John Smith Jr. 

Mansfield Smith Robert Stewart 

John Caldwell Thomas Senter 

Henry Hale Nathaniel Haselton 



•SOME EARLY CHURCH HISTORY 215 

©avid Glover Thomas Senter Jr. 

Samson Kidder Isaac Marshall 

Wilder Greeley Samuel Hills 

Moses Greeley Ebenezer Wood 

Reuben Sargent Eliphalet Hills 

Zaccheus Greeley Aaron Tarbox 

Peter Robinson William Steere 

David Hollis James Smith 

Cochran Patten David Peabody 

Isaac Page Philip Marshall 

Benjamin Kidder John Smith 

Thomas Hills Alexander Caldwell 

Thomas Wason Samuel Wason 

Samuel Smith James Caldwell 

Joseph Hobbs Josiah Merrill 

Hugh Smith Jonathan Tenney 

Joseph Steele Thomas Smith 

Samuel S. Smith Seth Wyman 
Joseph Caldwell 

Forty-seven voted in favor of settling Mr. Fisher and 
iifty-three protested against it. 

January 11, 1796, in spite of the above unmistakable 
opposition it was 

Voted to accept Mr. Jabez Pond Fisher's answer to the call given him 
by this town to settle in the ministry in said town as follows, Viz. 

Nottingham West Jan. 11, 1796. 

"To the church of Christ in, and inhabitants of Not- 
tingham West. 

"Bretheren and fellow citizens: 

"Having received a call from you to settle with you in 
the work of the Gospel ministry, and having looked to God 
for light and direction for the way in which to give my an- 
swer to you, I feel it my duty to give you an affirmative 
answer and do give you an affirmative answer accordingly, 
on the following considerations Viz: Instead of what you 
have offered me for settlement and salary, you give me 
three hundred and ten dollars yearly and every year until 
I request you to give me two hundred and seventy dollars 
and twenty cords of hard fire wood yearly, instead of the 
three hundred and ten dollars, and when requested then to 
give the said two hundred and seventy dollars and twenty 



216 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

cords of hard fire wood yearly & every year instead of said 
three hundred and ten dollars. 

"This support to be given me as ye manner first point- 
ed out from the time of ordination until the connection be- 
tween me and you, as pastor and people be dissolved and 
no longer. 

"When two thirds of the church shall request the pas- 
tor to take a dismission he is to take one in a short time 
after being thus requested. When the pastor shall request 
a dismission he is to have one in a short time after request- 
ing it. 

"It is however to be understood y* a dismission is not 
actually to take place upon being requested by either party 
without a mutual council being called to give advice. 
Should a dismission take place in consequence of being re- 
quested by church or pastor, it is to take place on the first 
Thursday of June, and the request shall be made at least 
ten months preceding ye said first Thursday of June. 

"In case the pastor do anything by which in the opin- 
ion of a ministerial council he forfeit his ministerial char- 
acter, the time of dismission is to be fixed upon by a min- 
isterial council. 

"The pastor is to be allowed the privilege of being 
absent three Sabbaths in a year without being under obli- 
gation to supply the pulpit the said three Sabbaths, and he 
is to enjoy the privilege so long as he continues ye pastor 
of ye church and people of Christ in this place. 

"Bretheren and fellow citizens; I wish you grace, 
mercy and peace. 

"Jabez Pond Fishkr." 

Voted and accepted. 

Dea. Ebenezer Cummings, Thomas Marsh, Moses 
Johnson, Joshua Pierce, Col. James Ford, John Gilson, 
Capt. John Pollard and Samuel Marsh, Esq., were chosen 
a committee "with Mr. Jabez Pond Fisher to consult on 
ways and measures for his ordination." 

Nottingham West Feb. 19, 1796. 
We whose names are underwritten are informed that the said town 
of Nottingham West are about settling Mr. Jabez Pond Fisher in the 
ministry in this town in the Congregationalist order. We do protest pay- 
ing any part of his salary or any money relating thereunto, as we profess 



SOME EARLY CHURCH HISTORY 217 

to be of a different persuasion, and pray that this protest may be entered 
on the Town Book of Records in said town. 

his 
Ashael Blodgett, Abraham Page, Jonathan X Blodgett, Phineas 

mark 
W. Blodgett, Joseph Blodgett Jr., Mansfield Huey, David Campbell, Sam- 
uel Richardson, John Tallant, Page Smith, William Gibson, Robert 
Glover, Eliphalet Hadley, Elnathan Searles, Gideon Butler. 

These fifteen Protestants added to the former fifty- 
three made sixty-eight opposed to settling Mr. Fisher. 
Still the minister was ordained, as witness the following 
action at a town meeting held September 12, 1796, when it 
was "Put to vote to see if the town would allow Joseph 
Greeley $30 for entertaining the council for ordination." 
Voted in the Negative. 

This was the continuation of a protracted and bitter op- 
position between two or more factions dominating the af- 
fairs of the town. January 5, 1797, a committee consisting 
of Dea. Isaac Merrill, Captain John Pollard and Joseph 
Greeley were chosen to consider the matter of getting pos- 
session of the North meeting-house. But this came to 
naught, and July 31, another attempt of the kind failed. 
October 30, it was 

Voted to dismiss all those who have regularly joined either the Pres- 
byterian or Baptist society, from paying taxes to the support of Rev. Mr. 
Fisher. 

At this same meeting it was "Voted to allow Dea. 
Isaac Merrill's account for the funeral charges of Rev. Mr. 
Nathaniel Merrill, amounting to seven dollars and eighty- 
two cents, and pay for a coffin the price not known." 

November 27, another effort to get a vote to build a 
new meeting-house did not succeed, and again March 5, 
1798, an article in the warrant for the annual meeting to 
see if the town would build a meeting-house "to stand near 
Mr. William Gibson's house,* or otherwise to stand on the 



* The site of the house of William Gibson was probably the same as now occupied by 
that of J. Frank Harvey. 



218 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

south side of Mr. Henry Hale's field, against the road that 
comes from Mr. William Gibson's, and that each denomi- 
nation shall have the use of said house their proportionate 
part of the time according to what they pay towards build- 
ing the same," was dismissed. 

The Rev. Nathaniel Merrill had continued to preach 
to the Congregationalists in the meeting-house at the south 
part of the town until a short time previous to his decease, 
which occurred during the year 1796, the exact day being 
unknown. This was the year that Rev. Jabez Pond Fisher 
was settled, with so much opposition. 

The town had made certain repairs on the old building, 
and thus had a part ownership with the builders and pew 
owners. As has been seen, the majority ot the Presbyter- 
ians were stubborly opposed to having Mr. Fisher settled, 
and refused to have Congregational preaching in the house 
built for their society. They refused also to bear any part 
of the taxation to support Mr. Fisher, and so the contro- 
versy waxed fierce and earnest. 

The crisis came one Sabbath morning, when the com- 
mittee that had been previously appointed by the Congre- 
gationalists to open the meeting-house for their service, 
met with resistance from the inside of the building. When 
the committee attempted to force an entrance with axes, 
they were driven away by the force stationed within under 
the leadership of Asa Davis, Esq. Finally the attempt 
was abandoned, and the service for that day was held in 
the open air upon the common during a storm of mist and 
rain. 

After this stirring episode Mr. Fisher preached at the 
old South meeting-house, in private houses, barns, or in 
the open air, until the new South meeting-house was built 
in 1798, by proprietors connected with the Congregational 
church and society. At the time Mr. Fisher, who was a 
graduate of Brown University in 1788, was ordained the 
members of his church did not number over fifty, and while 
he was pastor for about five years, thirty-six were admitted 
to membership. 



SOME EARLY CHURCH HISTORY 219 

June 18, 1798, it was voted to give the proprietors of 
the meeting-house then building land for a site on the west 
part of the Town Common, "near Josiah Hamblet's on the 
east side of the road for to set said meeting house on, so 
long as a meeting house shall be continued there." Asa 
Davis, Thomas Senter and James Caldwell were chosen a 
committee and empowered to give a deed in behalf of the 
town. 

The South meeting-house, built in 1798, stood about 
one hundred feet east of the Lowell road, and about half 
way between the road passing south of the Blodgett ceme- 
tery and the highway south of the common. It was not 
far from one hundred and fifty feet southerly from the site 
of the meeting-house erected in 1748. It was fifty by forty 
feet, with the pulpit on the north side in the center, galler- 
ies on the east, south and west sides, with a porch for the 
gallery stairs at the center of the east and west ends. The 
pews were square and the general arrangement or con- 
struction of the house was very similar to that of the North 
meeting-house. The writer remembers both of these build- 
ings. 

The South meeting-house remained until about 1844, 
when it was sold to James Carnes for one hundred dollars, 
and was taken down by him. The dwelling near Taylor's 
Falls bridge, now owned by Mrs. Elisha A. Martin, was 
constructed from the lumber of the old church by Mr. 
Carnes, even to the doors, windows, finish and underpin- 
ning, a piece of the last still bearing the date "1798." 

The records for the twenty years following the build- 
ing of the South meeting-house are plentifully interspersed 
with votes in regard to money raised for preaching or ac- 
tion unfavorable to it. September 24, 1798, the town de- 
clined "to make a tax for the Rev. Jabez P. Fisher." 
March 21, 1799, a committee reported: 

Minister Rate since yr 1795 not settled, 
Nor the Rate tor the ordination supper. 



220 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

March 3, 1800, it was voted not to raise "$500 to sup- 
port the Gospel, or any other sum." September 28, 1801, 
favorable action was taken towards raising one hundred 
dollars for preaching, to be divided between the two socie- 
ties, and Joseph Winn, Jr., Samuel Wason and Joseph B. 
Wilson were appointed a committee. March 15, 1802, after 
refusing to raise any money for preaching that year, the 
following article was considered: 

Put to vote to see if the town would pay Mr. Jabez Pond Fisher his 
demand that he had sued for. 

Voted in the Negative. 

Then voted and chose Asa Davis, Samuel Marsh Esq & Dea. Isaac 
Merrill a committee to inquire into the cause of the action and see what 
is due him if any, and who from, and report as soon as may be. 

The meeting was adjourned to Monday, March 22, 
when it was voted that "Asa Davis attend the court and 
get the said cause, Fisher against said town continued to 
September term." 

REPORT OF COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE MR. FISHER'S 
CLAIM. 

We the subscribers a committee chosen by the town for the 
purpose of examining into the cause of the action brought against 
the town by Mr. Fisher, Report as follows: Viz: We having ex- 
amined into the cause of the action, find that Mr. Fisher has received of 
the town $662, for his first two years salary and $2. over, and that there 
remains $1013.92 for his salary that the Town hath not settled with him. 
And that we find by a vote of the Town on Record, that those persons 
who were exempted from paying to his support in the year 1797 ought to 
be exempted from paying proportionate part of this sum that is now due. 
Nottingham West Aug. 30, 1802. 

ASA DAVIS, 
ISAAC MERRILL Committee. 

Four years passed without any money being raised for 
preaching, in which time it is supposed the account of Mr. 
Fisher was settled. May 14, 1807, three hundred dollars 
was voted for preaching, each taxpayer to pay his money 
to that denomination designated by him. April 2, 1808, 
two hundred dollars was raised, those persons belonging to 



SOME EARLY CHURCH HISTORY 221 

the Baptist church being exempted from this minister's 
tax, while those of the other denominations were allowed 
to pay their tax where they chose. In 1809 and 1810 one 
hundred and fifty dollars was raised each year for preach- 
ing. August 27, 1810, there was an article in the warrant: 

To see if the town will vote to finish the North meeting house in said 
town, in case the present owners will first make it the towns property. 
Was voted in the Negative. 

October 29, 1810, after voting the money to "the Bap- 
tists and their accomplices," the money they had been as- 
sessed, to be used in their own society, it was 

Voted that the Baptists and their accomplices may petition the State 
Legislature to incorporate them a Baptist society in Nottingham West. 

In 1811, 1812, 1813, 1814 and 1815 one hundred dollars 
a year was raised for preaching, exclusive of the Baptists 
and their "accomplices." In 1816 and 1817, two hundred 
dollars was raised for this purpose, outside of the Baptists. 
March 23, 1818, 

Voted to give Mr. Willard Holbrook a call to settle as pastor over 
the Presbyterian church and congregation. 

Chose Dea. Page Smith, Dea. Thomas Hills, John Poster, Capt. 
Caleb S. Ford, Esq., Ebenezer Marsh, a committee to consult and propose 
a sum for the support of said Holbrook, in case he accept our call as 
pastor. 

The committee reported in favor of a salary of $400 a 
year, or $325 for three-fourths of a year. The first proposi- 
tion was accepted, Dea. Isaac Merrill, Dea. Page Smith 
and Asa Blodgett were made a committee to wait upon 
Mr. Holbrook. 

For some reason Mr. Holbrook did not accept the 
offer. 

The sum of two hundred dollars was raised for preach- 
ing in 1819, which is the last entry of this kind in the town 
records. March 12, 1825, a movement to build a belfry in 
the North meeting-house and make repairs was voted down. 



222 HISTORY OF HUDSON" 

The checkered record of the North meeting-house con- 
tains two conveyances that are of especial interest. Janu- 
ary 2, 1797, Joseph Wilson of Dracut, Mass., in considera- 
tion of #8, conveyed to Asa Davis of Nottingham West, 
"all his right of land and meeting-house standing on same 
and containing about twenty-three square rods." The de- 
scription being the same as in the deed of Henry Hale, 
December 15, 1770. 

November 26, 1811. 
Asa Davis & Paul Tenney of Nottingham West, in consideration of 
one dollar, paid by the members of the Baptist Incorporation in Notting- 
ham West, and such as may become members of the same, their heir9 
aud assigns forever, all our right and title in a certain piece of land and 
meeting house standing on the same, containing about 23 square rods, 
bounded as followeth. Viz: Beginning at a stake and stones by the town 
road and thence northeasterly by said road 13 rods to a stake and stones: 
thence W 13° S 10 rods to a stake and stones, and from thence south 5 
rods to the bounds first mentioned. (Further description refers to Hale 
deed.) 

March 1, 1842, the old church and lot were again 
prominent in conveyance, when the Baptist society, through 
their committee, David Burns, Noah Robinson and Reuben 
Greeley, deeded the property to the town of Hudson, the 
deed not recorded. 

A certain tract of land situated in said Hudson with a meeting house 

standing thereon Beginning at a stake and stones at 

the south west corner of the premises, on the town road leading from 
Reuben Greeley's in said Hudson, to Elbridge Dow's in said Hudson, and 
on land of Farmer & Robinson : thence northeasterly by said highway 13 
rods to a stake and stones on land of Reuben Greeley, thence W 13° S 
10| rods to a stake & stones on said Farmer & Robinson's land, thence 
southerly by said Farmer & Robinsons land to the bound first mentioned; 
containing about 23 square rods. 

Reserving all the pews in said house except the pew at the right hand 
of the pulpit, which pews are understood not to be conveyed by this deed. 
Consideration $100. 

DEED OF PEWS 

Know all men by these presents, that in consideiation of one dollar 
to us in hand paid by the town of Hudson, in the county of Hillsborough 



SOME EARLY CHURCH HISTORY 223 

;and State of New Hampshire, we hereby sell and convey to said town of 
Hudson, all the interest we have in any pew in the North meeting house 
in said Hudson to the said towns use forever. 

Hudson Jany 27, 1842. 
Reuben Greeley James McCoy 

David Burns Noah Robinson 

Thomas Marsh Enoch S. Marsh 

Hiram Marsh William Hadley 

Moses Greeley Amos Hills 

David Robinson Eibridge Dow 

Abel Pollard Joseph B. Wilson 

Sarah Atwood, 
Pews given up that were not owned by Baptists : 



Alden Hills 


Noyes Tenney 




Gilman Andrews 


Jeremiah Smith 




Leonard Wyman 


J. P. F. Cross 




Daniel T. Davis 






Pews not given up: 






Zaccheus Colburn, No. 19 


Heirs of J. Corliss, 


No 10 


Phineas Blodgett " IS 


Joseph Blodgett 


" 33 


Jonathan Hills " 16J 


James Smith 2d 


" 30 


Col. William Hills, " 17 


Capt. Sprake 


" 25 


Joshua Pierce " 15 


Jefferson Smith 


" 23 


Thomas Gowing " 12 







Up Stairs. 

Heirs of Joseph Winn No. 3&2 Alexander Caldwell No. 4 

James Tenney " 6 J. Steele & Smith " 8 

Asa Blodgett " 9 Thomas B. Wason " 11 

Dea. Benjamin Merrill " 12 Heirs Philip Hills " 13 

Dea. J. Caldwell " 14 Widow Burbank " 15 
Hugh Smith " 17 

The foregoing lists are copied from a paper found in 
the chest of the Town Clerk, the names of those not giv- 
ing up their pews and the pew-owners up-stairs having 
been written on the back of the loose sheet. Over forty 
pews are thus accounted for in all. 

The North meeting-house, built by the Presbyterians 
in 1771, was at different periods occupied as a house of 
worship by the Presbyterians, Congregationalists and Bap- 
tists, and it was the innocent cause of not a little friction. 
The town meetings, with a few exceptions, were held here 

/ 



224 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

from 1778 to 1857, when the old, historical building, after 
braving the vicissitudes of eighty-six years, was torn down 
to make room upon the same site for the present town 
house, which was erected that year by Mr. William Ander- 
son of Windham, at the expense of the town of Hudson. 



CHAPTER XIX 



French and Indian Wars 



A militia law was enacted by the General Court of 
New Hampshire, in 1718, and published the following year. 
The law provided that all male persons from sixteen to 
sixty years of age, except Negroes and Indians, should per- 
form military service, with the following exceptions: Mem- 
bers of the General Court, ministers, deacons, physicians, 
school masters, ferrymen, justices of the peace, millers, and 
such persons as had before held military commissions. 

Each private soldier was required to be furnished with 
a "Fire-Lock, Knapsack, Cartridge box, Worm and Prim- 
ing Wire, One Pound of Powder, twenty Bullets and twelve 
Flints, and to train four days in the year, and to muster 
once in three years." It was also made the duty of each 
town in the province to keep on hand a stock of ammuni- 
tion for the town's use, consisting of "One barrel of good 
Gun powder, 100 pounds of bullets and 300 flints for every 
sixty soldiers." 

This law, with but little change, remained in force 
until the war of the Revolution. 

Nottingham West, which previous to January 4, 1733, 
was a part of Dunstable, was, for many years after its set- 
tlement, situated on the northern frontier and exposed to 
all the dangers of border warfare. This fact caused, of 
necessity, almost every able bodied citizen of suitable age 
to become a soldier, and not a few shared personally in the 
conflicts with the French and Indians. The military spirit 
was fostered as a duty, and it has been said that "New 
England freedom placed in the hands of every child a gun 
as well as a spelling book, which made necessarily of every 
child not less a marksman than a scholar." 
225 



226 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

For thirteen of the nineteen years, beginning" with 
1744 and ending with 1763, the interval scarcely one of 
peace, our ancestors were involved in this savage warfare 
for the defence of their homes, their families and their fire- 
sides, waged by their enemies with the avowed purpose of 
driving the English out of the country. 

We now look with pride and admiration to the history 
of those years, recognizing as we do that it is wholly owing 
to the courage, constancy, endurance and sufferings of 
those ancestors that we now enjoy the rich inheritance they 
transmitted to us. 

We would gladly know much more than it is now pos- 
sible to learn, of the personal history of the citizens of this 
town who served as soldiers in those wars — some under the 
brave Captain John Goffe, others with the famous "Hang- 
ers" of whom Captain Robert Rogers was the leader, some 
with Major Zaccheus Lovewell, a resident of this town until 
1748, and others in the regiment commanded by Colonel 
Joseph Blanchard of Dunstable, and in other companies. 

A period of Indian warfare began in March, 1744, and 
lasted until 1749. As in former wars, the Canada and eas- 
tern Indians sided with the French, and coming in large 
numbers from Canada and Nova Scotia, they prowled 
around the defenceless settlements, waylaying, murdering 
and scalping, or taking captives to Canada, the settlers of 
frontier towns until some of these no farther away than 
Peterborough, Lyndeborough and New Boston, became 
wholly deserted. In 1754, six years after the treaty of Aix 
La Chapelle between England and France was made, the 
last French and Indian war begun, which ended inM763, 
after the capitulation of Quebec and the final conquest of 
Canada. Many men from this town did more or less service 
during two cruel wars, in guarding the frontiers and in 
other military acts. 

The lists of names of Nottingham West men have 
been found, principally in Vol. 2, of the Adjutant General's 
Report for 1866. 



FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS 227 

Many others undoubtedly served in these scouting 
parties with the Rangers, the muster rolls of whom have 
not been preserved. 

In the muster rolls of Captain John Goffe's Company 
engaged in scouting from the Merrimack River to the Con- 
necticut, August and September, 1745, are the following 
names from this town: 

Jeremiah Blodgett, Ezekiel Greeley, 

John Bradbury, John Marsh, 

Nathaniel Hills. 

In the muster rolls of Captain John Goffe's Company 
of twenty-four men engaged in the same duty in October 
and November, 1745, are these names from this town: 
Jeremiah Blodgett, Benjamin Thompson, 

John Merrill, Benjamin Snow, 

Samuel Merrill, Benjamin Davis. 

In the Company of Captain John Goffe, engaged in 
scouting and guarding the Souhegan, Monson and Stark 
garrisons* in 1748, the following names appear with the 
times of service: 

John Bradbury, April 10 to October 5. 

John Carkin, April 14 to October 5. 

John Hamblet, June 17 to July 24. 

Samuel Houston, June 11 to July 13. 

John Hewey, June 17 to September 24. 

Moses Lowell, April 10 to October 5. 

Isaac Page, June 15 to July 16. 

John Pollard, July 14 to August 23. 

Joseph Taylor, April 14 to October 4. 

Thomas Taylor, April 14 to October 4. 

In a detachment from Colonel Joseph Blanchard's 
Regiment, "employed in His Majesty's service on the Mer- 
rimack River, commanded by Lieutenant John Goffe," in 
1754: 



* Souhegan is now Bedford; Monson is now Milford and Stark's garrison was in Derry- 
field, now Manchester, at the outlet of Nutt's pond, which is about two miles south of the 
City Hall and a little east of the Manchester and Lawrence railroad. 



228 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Peter Cross, August 23 to November 16. 

Stevens Chase, August 23 to November 16. 

John Carkin, August 23 to November 16. 

Samuel Houston, August 23 to November 16. 

Isaac Waldron, August 23 to November 16. 

Detached from Colonel Joseph Blanchard's Regiment, 
posted on Connecticut River, commanded by Lieutenant 
Benjamin Bellows in 1754: 

Henry Hewey, August 23 to November 19. 

James Hewey, August 23 to November 19. 

Henry Hills, August 23 to September 9. 

Amos Kenney, August 23 to November 19. 

In 1755, New Hampshire raised a regiment command- 
ed by Colonel Joseph Blanchard of Dunstable, to aid in the 
expedition against the French forts at Crown Point on the 
west shore of Lake Champlain. In the fourth Company 
of this regiment, commanded by Captain Tash, are found 
the following names: 

Nathaniel Davis, April 24 to June 17. 

Ezekiel Page, April 24 to October 18. 

John Pollard, April 24 to October 18. 

In Captain James Todd's Company, of Colonel Peter 
Gilman's Regiment of three hundred men, raised in 1755, 
and which marched to Albany by way of Number Four, 
(Charlestown, N. H.) are the names of 

James Blodgett, September 22 to December 13. 

John Carkin, September 22 to December 18. 

Jeremiah Hills, September 22 to December 18. 

In 1756, New Hampshire raised another regiment of 
seven hundred men for the expedition against Crown Point, 
commanded by Colonel Nathaniel Meserve of Portsmouth. 
John Pollard served in this regiment from May 1 to Octo- 
ber 28. 

After the bloody massacre at Fort William Henry on 
August 3, 1757, when eighty New Hampshire men out of 
two hundred and eighty posted there were killed or taken 
prisoners in violation of the terms of capitulation, New 



FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS 229 

Hampshire raised a battalion of two hundred and fifty men 
for the defence of Fort Edward, near Lake George, under 
the command of Thomas Tash of Durham. This force 
consisted of five companies — three of foot and two of cav- 
alry. They were posted at the Fort at Number Four. In 
the first company of this battalion are found the following 
names: 

John Cross, August 21 to October 29. 

Timothy Emerson, August 21 to October 22. 

William Merrill, August 21 to October 29. 

In 1758, New Hampshire raised still another regiment 

for "the Crown Point expedition." This numbered eight 

hundred men and was commanded by Colonel John Hart 

of Portsmouth. In this regiment are found the names of 

the following Nottingham West men: 

John Pollard, Ensign, April 10 to November. 

Joshua Chase, April 10 to October 31. 

John Carkin, April 19 to November 3. 

Eleazer Cummings, April 17 to November 30. 

Jonathan Hardy, April 28, Lame. 

Nathaniel Merrill, April 24 to October 3. 

Elijah Hills, April 18 to November 26. 

Samuel Houston, April 10, Not able to go. 

Nathaniel Haseltine, April 18 to November 15. 

Joseph Lowell, April 18 to October 25. 

John Marsh, Jr., April 24 to November 1. 

Amos Pollard, April 18 to November 19. 

Thomas Wason, April 13 to November 30. 

In 1760, a regiment of eight hundred men was raised 
for an expedition to invade Canada, under the command of 
Colonel John Goffe of Derryfield, now Manchester. This 
regiment had its rendezvous in Litchfield, and marched by 
the way of Monson (Milford), Peterborough and Keene to 
Number Four, and then cut a road through the wilderness 
twenty-six miles to the Green Mountains, and from thence 
proceeded to Crown Point, following the road that had been 
cut mainly by the Rangers under Captain John Stark the 
year previous. 



230 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

They had to clear the road — a mere bridle path — from 
Merrimack to Keene. They were forty-four days in cut- 
ting the road to the Green Mountains, which they crossed, 
packing or hauling their stores over them on horse-barrows. 

A large drove of cattle followed them for the army at 
Crown Point. In this regiment we find the names of 

John Caldwell, April 5 to November 27. 

Amos Kenney, April 1 to November 27. 

Samuel Kenney, March 14 to November 27. 

Stephen Kenney, March 14 to November 27. 

In addition to the foregoing names of Nottingham 
West men who did military service in the French and In- 
dian wars, are the following: 

James Wason, Micajah Winn, 

Asa Worcester, Sanders Bradbury, 

Benjamin Kidder, Jr., John Caldwell. 

Resident Taxpayers, 1775 

In December, 1775, the year of the beginning of the 
Revolutionary war, the number of resident taxpayers in 
Nottingham West was one hundred and thirty-five — one 
hundred and thirty-one males and four widows, of whom 
the following is a list copied from the records: 
Adams, Widow Mary, Chase, Stephen, 

Barrett, Moses, Chase, Stephen, Jr., 

Barrett, Simeon, Cross, Peter, 

Blodgett, Jeremiah, Cummings, David, 

Blodgett, Jonathan, Cummings, Deacon Ebenezer, 

Blodgett, Jonathan, Jr., Cummings, Eleazer, 

Blodgett, Joseph, Cummings, Josiah, 

Bradley, Jonathan, ( ummings, Peter, 

Bradbury, Sanders, Corning, Nathaniel, 

Burbank, Samuel, Cutter, Richard, 

Burbank, Samuel, Jr., Dakin, Ebenezer, 

Burns, George, Dakin, Levi, 

Burns, George, Jr., Dakin, Justus, 

Burns, William, Davis, Asa, 



FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS 



231 



Caldwell, Alexander, 
Caldwell, John, 
Caldwell, James, 
Caldwell, Samuel, 
Caldwell, Thomas, 
Campbell, John, 
Chase, Ezekiel, Esq., 
Chase, Henry, 
Chase, Joshua, 
French, Elder Samuel, 
Glover, Robert, 
Gould, Joseph, 
Gould, Joseph, Jr., 
Greeley, Captain Ezekiel, 
Greeley, Captain Samuel, 
Greeley, Widow Susanna, 
Hadley, Eliphalet, 
Hadley, Eliphalet, Jr., 
Hadley, Moses, 
Hadley, Parrot, 
Hadley, Seth, 
Hale, Elder Henry, 
Hale, Henry, 
Hale, John, 
Hamblet, Thomas, 
Hardy, Daniel, 
Hardy, Jonathan, 
Hardy, Nathaniel, 
Hardy, Richard, 
Haseltine, John, 
Haseltine, John, Jr., 
Hills, Elijah, 
Hills, Lieut. Ezekiel, 
Hills, Widow Hannah, 
Hills, Jeremiah, 
Hills, Oliver, 
Hills, Philip, 



Davis, Ensign Nathaniel, 
Davidson, George, 
Durant, Samuel, 
Eastman, Ichabod, 
Eastman, Nicholas, 
Emerson, Elder Timothy, 
Emerson, Timothy, Jr., 
Farmer, Edward, 
Ford, Lieut. James, 
Hills, Samuel, 
Hills, William, 
Huey, Henry, 
Huey, John, 
Johnson, Moses, 
Kelley, Captain Joseph, 
Kenney, Amos, 
Kenney, Stephen, 
Lowell, Stephen, 
Marsh, John, 
Marsh, Captain Samuel, 
Marsh, Elder Thomas, 
Marshall, Benjamin, 
Marshall, Richard, 
Merrill, Abel, 
Merrill, John, 
Merrill, Ensign Nathaniel, 
Merrill, Nathaniel, Jr., 
Merrill, William, 
Moore, Major Samuel, 
Page, Captain Abraham, 
Pemberton, James, 
Perry, Ebenezer, 
Pierce, Widow Esther, 
Pollard, Amos, 
Pollard, Ebenezer, 
Pollard, Ensign John, 
Pollard, John, Jr., 



232 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Pollard, Samuel, 
Pollard, Timothy, 
Reed, Abijah, 
Richardson, Henry, 
Searles, Jonathan, 
Searles, Thomas, 
Seavey, Andrew, 
Smith, Lieut. Hugh, 
Smith, John, 
Smith, Page, 
Smith, Samuel, 
Smith, Samuel, Jr., 
Smith, Thomas, 
Smith, Timothy, 
Spalding, Lieut. Reuben, 
Stewart, Robert, 



Pollard, Joseph, 
Tarbell, David, 
Walker, John, 
Wason, James, 
Wason, Samuel, 
Wason, Thomas, 
Wells, John, 
Whittemore, Benjamin, 
Whittemore, Benjamin, Jr., 
Wilson, Joseph, 
Winn, Abiather, 
Winn, Lieut. Joseph, 
Winn, Joseph, Jr., 
Winn, Widow Judith, 
Winn, Nehemiah, 



Wyman, Daniel, 
Wyman, Seth. 

Three years and four months later, April 17, 1779, the 
list of resident taxpayers contained one hundred and eighty- 
three names, an increase of forty-eight, or nearly thirty-six 
per cent. 

More than half of this increase was due to the annex- 
ation, in March, 1778, of that part of Londonderry known 
as "Londonderry Claim," an account of which has been 
given in a former chapter of this history. 

This list of taxpayers copied from the records, is as 
follows: 



Andrews, Levi, 
Barrett, Isaac, 
Barrett, James, 
Barrett, Simeon, 
Bixby, William, 
Blodgett, Asahel, 
Blodgett, Jeremiah, 
Blodgett, Jonathan, 



Tax List, 1779 

Barrett, James, Jr., 
Barrett, Moses, 
Barrett, Captain Moses, 
Chase, Micajah, 
Chase, Stephen, 
Chase, Stephen, Jr., 
Colby, Philbrick, 
Coffin, William, 



FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS 



233 



Blodgett, Joseph, 
Bradley, Jonathan, 
Brown, Samuel, 
Burbank, Samuel, 
Burbank, Samuel, Jr., 
Burns, George, 
Burns, George, Jr., 
Burns, William, 
Burrows, Elder George, 
Burrows, James, 
Burrows, Nathaniel, 
Burrows, William, 
Butler, Gideon, 
Caldwell, Alexander, 
Caldwell, James, 
Caldwell, John, 
Caldwell, Samuel, 
Caldwell, Thomas, 
Campbell, David, 
Campbell, Samuel, 
Chase, Ezekiel, Esq., 
Chase, Henry, 
Chase, James, 
Chase, Joshua, 
Greeley, Zaccheus, 
Hale, Elder Henry, 
Hale, Henry, Jr., 
Hale, John, 
Hall, Doctor John, 
Hadley, Eliphalet, 
Hadley, Eliphalet, Jr., 
Hadley, Enos, 
Hadley, Moses, 
Hadley, Parrot, 
Hadley, Seth, 
Hadley, Stephen, 
Hardy, Ensign Daniel, 



Cross, Lieut. Peter, 

Cummings, Deacon Ebenezer, 

Cummings, Lieut. David, 

Cummings, Eleazer, 

Cummings, Josiah, 

Cutter, Richard, 

Cutter, Seth, 

Davis, Asa, Esq., 

Davis, Ensign Nathaniel, 

Dakin, Justus, 

Durant, Samuel, 

Eastman, Ichabod, 

Eastman, Nicholas, 

Farmer, Edward, 

French, Elder Samuel, 

Ford, Captain James, 

Gibson, William, 

Glover, David, 

Glover, Robert, 

Gould, Joseph, 

Graham, Widow Eleanor, 

Greeley, Captain Ezekiel, 

Greeley, Joseph, 

Greeley, Samuel, 

Hills, William, 

Hobbs, Joseph, 

Hood, William, 

Huey, Henry, 

Huey, John, 

Johnson, Moses, 

Kelley, Captain Joseph, 

Kidder, Lieut. Benjamin, 

Kidder, Elder Samson, 

Kinney, Widow Sarah, 

Lawrence, David, 

Lawrence, Jonathan, 

Livingston, Isaac, 



234 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Hardy, Isaac, 
Hardy, John, 
Hardy, John, Jr., 
Hardy, Moody, 
Hardy, Richard, 
Haseltine, Lieut. John, 
Haseltine, John, 
Hills, Ensign Elijah, 
Hills, Lieut. Ezekiel, 
Hills, Widow Hannah, 
Hills, Jeremiah, 
Hills, Nathaniel, 
Hills, Oliver, 
Hills, Philip, 
Hills, Samuel, 
Hills, Thomas, 
Merrill, Abel, 
Merrill, Isaac, 
Merrill, John, 
Merrill, Ensign Nathaniel, 
Merrill, Nathaniel, Jr., 
Merrill, Lieut. William, 
Moody, Friend, 
Moore, Major Samuel, 
Myric, Joseph, 
Ordway, Nehemiah, 
Page, Captain Abraham, 
Page, Ezekiel, 
Page, Isaac, 

Peabody, Captain David, 
Pemberton, James, 
Perry, Ebenezer, 
Pierce, Joshua, 
Pollard, Ebenezer, 
Pollard, Ensign John, 
Pollard, John, Jr., 
Pollard, Joseph, 



Littlehale, Ezra, 
Marsh, David, 
Marsh, John, 
Marsh, Captain Samuel, 
Marsh, Elder Thomas, 
Marshall, Benjamin, 
Marshall, Widow Deborah, 
Marshall, Daniel, 
Marshall, David, 
Marshall, John, 
Marshall, John, Jr., 
Marshall, Philip, 
Marshall, Richard, 
Marshall, Richard, 2d., 
Marshall, Samuel, 
Marshall, Thomas, 
Searles, Jacob, 
Searles, Jonathan, 
Searles, Thomas, 
Seavey, Andrew, 
Seavey, Nathaniel, 
Severance, Caleb, 
Smith, Lieut. Hugh, 
Smith, John, 
Smith, Page, 
Smith, Samuel, 
Smith, Samuel, Jr., 
Smith, Lieut. Thomas, 
Smith, Timothy, 
Spalding, Lieut. Reuben, 
Steele, Joseph, 
Steele, William, 
Stewart, Robert, 
Tarbell, David, 
Tarbox, Lieut. Ebenezer, 
Tarbox, Henry, 
Taylor, William, 



FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS 



235 



Pollard, Samuel, 
Pollard, Timothy, 
Porter, David, 
Robinson, Andrew, 
Robinson, John, 
Robinson, Peter, 
Robinson, Simeon, 
Richardson, Henry, 
Winn, Joseph, Jr., 



Walker, John, 
Wason, James, 
Wason, Samuel, 
Wason, Thomas, 
Wells, John, 
Whittemore, Benjamin, 
Wilson, Joseph, 
Winn, Abiather, 
Wyman, Seth, 
Wyman, Thomas. 

In addition to the one hundred and eighty-three names 
given in the foregoing list there were a few others — some 
young, unmarried men, sons of farmers, and farm laborers, 
whose names do not appear in this schedule, but who were 
assessable for a poll tax, which was paid by their employers. 



CHAPTER XX 

Nottingham West in the Revolution 

After the beginning of the Revolutionary war, Septem- 
ber, 1775, a census was taken by order of the New Hamp- 
shire convention, when the town was credited with a popu- 
lation of six hundred and forty-nine. Men in the army, 
twenty-two; slaves, four. 

Nottingham West in the Revolution 

April 25, 1775, Abraham Page was elected to "join 
with the congress at Exeter, to act upon such matters as 
shall be thought proper and expedient for the public good." 

On May 8 he was again chosen to "join the convention 
of Delegates that shall assemble from the several towns of 
this province to meet at Exeter on the 17th day of May 
current at 10 o'clock, and to empower him with the rest to 
adopt and pursue measures that shall be judged best to 
preserve the rights of this and the other colonies, and that 
he may act as he thinks best for himself and his constitu- 
ents for six months." 

The town also "Voted that the persons who shall en- 
list to be ready on any emergency when called for, shall 
have forty shillings per Month for their wages." 

Association Test 

In April, 1776, the Committee of Safety in New 
Hampshire, acting in accordance with the wishes of the 
Continental Congress, sent to each town a circular, a copy 
of which is given below: 

In Committee of Safety. April 12, 1776. 
In order to carry the under written Resolve of the Honorable Con- 
tinental Congress into execution, you are requested to desire all males 
above twenty-one years of age, (lunatics, idiots and Negroes excepted,) to 
sign to the declaration on this paper, and when so done to make return 

236 



NOTTINGHAM WEST IN THE REVOLUTION 237 

hereof together with the name or names of all who shall refuse to sign 
the same, to the General Assembly or Committee of Safety of this Col- 
ony. 

M. WEARE Chairman. 

In Congress, March 14, 1776. 

Resolved, That it be recommended to the several Assemblies, Con- 
ventions, and Councils, or Committees of Safety, of the United Colonies, 
immediately to cause all persons to be disarmed within their respective 
jurisdictions, who are notoriously disaffected to the cause of America, 
or who have not associated, and refuse to associate, to defend by Arms 
the United Colonies against the Hostile attempts of the British Fleets 
and Armies. 

(Copy) CHARLES THOMPSON, 

Sec'ry. 

In consequence of the above Resolution of the Hon. Continental 
Congress, and to show our determination in joining our American breth- 
ren in defending the lives, liberties and pioperties of the inhabitants of 
the United Colonies, 

We the subscribers, do hereby solemnly engage and promise, that we 
will to the utmost of our power, at the risque of our lives and fortunes, 
with arms oppose the Hostile Proceedings of the British Fleets and Ar- 
mies against the American Colonies. 

Every man was required to sign this test or be regard- 
ed by his fellow citizens as an enemy to the country. 

In this town one hundred and eighteen signed the 
pledge, whose names are as follows: 

Asahel Blodgett, John Haseltine, 

Asa Davis, Samuel Smith, 

David Cummings, Ichabod Esman, 

John Caldwell, Edward Farmer, 

Daniel Wyman, Timothy Emerson, 

James Caldwell, Robert Stewart, 

Alexander Caldwell, Samuel Wason, 

James Caldwell, Jr., Jonathan Searles, 

Samuel Caldwell, Moses Barrett, 

William Merrill, Joseph Caldwell, 

James Ford, Thomas Caldwell, 

Abraham Page, Eliphalet Hadley, 

Seth Wyman, Thomas Wason, 



238 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



John Haseltine, Jr., 
Henry Huey, 
Jonathan Bradley, 
Stephen Hadley, 
John Campbell, 
Thomas Searles, 
David Glover, 
Nicholas Eastman, 
Page Smith, 
John Strickland, 
Timothy Emerson, 
Joseph Watson, 
Joseph Gould, 
Samuel Moore, 
Stephen Chase, 
Jonathan Blodgett, 
Samuel Burbank, 
Samuel Burbank, Jr., 
Amos Kinney, 
Nathaniel Hardy, 
Timothy Smith, 
Amos Pollard, 
Richard Cutter, 
Nathaniel Lewis, 
Sanders Bradbury, 
Nathaniel Merrill, Jr., 
Isaac Merrill, 
Samuel Durant, 
John Merrill, 
Abel Merrill, 
Justus Dakin, 
Samuel Pollard, 
Joshua Chase, 
Stephen Gould, 
Stephen Lowell, Jr., 
Benjamin Whittemore, 
Moses Johnson, 



Eliphalet Hadley, Jr., 
Moses Hadley, 
Parit Hadley, 
Samuel Marsh, 
Benjamin Marshall, 
Eleazer Cummings, 
Ebenezer Cummings, 
Daniel Hardy, 
Samuel Hills, 
Philip Hills, 
Seth Hadley, 
Simeon Barrett, 
Isaac Barrett, 
Oliver Hills, 
Richard Hardy, 
Joseph Pollard, 
Jeremiah Hills, 
William Hills, 
Richard Marshall, 
Thomas Marsh, 
Elijah Hills, 
Thomas Hills, 
Ezekiel Hills, 
Peter Cross, 
William Burns, 
Jeremiah Blodgett, 
Timothy Pollard, 
Abiatha Winn, 
Jonathan Hardy, Jr., 
Ezekiel Chase, 
John Walker, 
John Pollard, 
Stephen Chase, Jr., 
John Pollard, Jr„ 
Samuel Burbank, 
George Burns, 
Ebenezer Dakin, 



NOTTINGHAM WEST IN THE REVOLUTION 239 

Nathaniel Merrill, Levi Dakin, 

Samuel French, Henry Hale, Jr., 

George Burns, Jr., Henry Hale, 

Samuel Greele, John Hale, 

Samuel Greele, Jr., Andrew Seavey, 

Joseph Blodgett, James Wason, 

Joseph Winn, David Tarbell, 

Joseph Winn, Jr., Thomas Hamblet, 

Ebenezer Pollard, Nathaniel Merrill, Jr.. 

In obedience to the written Request we have Desired all the Persons 
therein to sign, and find none to Refuse Except Captain Joseph Kelley. 
Dated Nottingham West this 3 d day of June, A. D. 1776. 

SAMUEL MARSH, 

JOHN CALDWELL, <> Selectmen of Nottingham West. 



SAMUEL MARSH, ) 
JOHN CALDWELL, } 
WILLIAM BURNS, ) 



Captain Joseph Kelley previous to that date kept a 
tavern at his residence, which stood about four hundred 
feet easterly from the present Taylor's Falls bridge, the 
northerly half of which was in what is now Main Street, 
and the southerly half in Campbell's Avenue. He was 
also the proprietor and manager of "Kelley's Ferry," which 
crossed the Merrimack a short distance south of where 
Taylor's Falls bridge now stands. He was a man of bad 
repute, and was feared by his neighbors. He afterwards 
removed to Wentworth, in this State, where he became a 
pauper, and as such, was the cause of a considerable ex- 
pense to this town. He escaped from jail at Amherst, Oc- 
tober 14, 1772, which also caused the town of Nottingham 
West much trouble and expense. 

At a special town meeting, June 12, 1775, " Voted to 
make choice of five men as a Committee of Inspection for 
this town." 

Made choice of Moses Johnson, Samuel Greeley, Elijah Dills, Timo- 
thy Smith, and John Haseltine, and also Deacon Ebenezer Cummings 
and Asa Davis for said committee. 

At the same meeting, Article four of the warrant was 
dismissed, which was 



240 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

To see what measure or measures the Town will take to provide 



arms. 



At a town meeting September 18, 1775, 

Voted to allow John Haseltine, Jr., for attending ye Congress at Am- 
herst, £0—5—9—2. 

At an adjourned town meeting September 30, 1776, 

Voted to allow Major Samuel Greeley and the selectmen, "Viz : Asa 
Davis, John Haseltine, and 'William Burns, for expenses on their march 
to Lexington fight, five dollars — £\ — 10s. — 0d. 

At the annual meeting March 10, 1777, "Voted to 
choose Lieutenant Ezekiel Hills, Captain James Ford and 
Lieutenant David Cummings, a Committee of Inspection 
and Safety in this town." 

April 7th, Voted to raise eighty dollars as a bounty for each of those 
men that should enlist into the Continental Army for three years. 

Voted to choose a committee and empower them to set a value upon 
what each man hath done in this present war, and to make their return to 
the town. Chose Lieutenant William Merrill, William Bums, Lieutenant 
John Haseltine, Jr., John Caldwell and Samuel Wason as a committee 
to effect the same. 

April 15th, Voted to raise twenty dollars for each of those men that 
should enlist into the Continental Army, as an additional bounty to what 
has been already raised. 

Voted to accept the report of the committee last chosen, to set a val- 
uation on what has been done in this Town towards carrying on the pres- 
ent war. 

The report of the committee was not recorded. 

During most of the time of the war all the money in 
use as a circulating medium of exchange was the Conti- 
nental paper money issued by Congress, or the bills of 
credit of the States. This currency was issued in such 
large quantities, both by the States and Congress, that 
from the excessive amount in circulation it began to depre- 
ciate rapidly, and to an alarming extent, as early as the 
second year of the war. In 1777, the depreciation had be- 
come so great that the wages of the soldiers in the army 
was nominally more than twice as much as in 1775. 





s.d. 


s.d. 


Wheat per bushel 


7,6. 


Cheese per lb. 0, 6. 


Rye, 


4,6. 


Butter, " " 0, 10. 


Indian Corn, " 


3,6. 


Coffee, " " 1,4. 


Oats, 


2, 0. 


Cotton, " " 3, 0. 


Peas, " " 


8,0. 


Wool, " " 2, 2. 


Beans, " " 


6,0. 


Flax, " " 1,0. 



NOTTINGHAM WEST IN THE REVOLUTION 241 

The General Court and the people both became 
alarmed at this condition of the only currency then in use. 
In the hope of arresting or lessening the evil, the New 
Hampshire Legislature, early in the spring of 1777, passed 
a law, regulating and establishing the prices at which the 
common necessaries of life might be sold. Some of the 
more common articles named in this law, with the prices 
fixed for them, may be found in the following list: 

s.d. 
Beef per lb. 0, 3. 

Tow cloth per yard, 2, 3. 
Flannel, " " 3, 6. 
Linen cloth," " 4, 0. 
N. E. Rum per gal. 3, 10. 
. W. I. Rum " " 7, 8. 
Salt, " " 10, 0. Pork, " " 0, 4>£ Molasses. " " 4, 0. 

At a special town meeting, July 14, 1777, "Chose Cap- 
tain Abraham Page, Deacon Thomas Marsh, John Cald- 
well, Samuel Durant, Lieutenant Peter Cross, Captain 
James Ford, Lieutenant Ezekiel Hills, a committee in 
order to set prices upon such articles in the Town as they 
think fit, agreeable to a late Act of the General Court. 

"Chose Deacon Ebenezer Cummings and Seth Wy- 
man in addition to the Committee of Safety and Inspection 
last chosen." 

It appears that the report of the committee chosen "to 
set a value upon what each man hath done in this present 
war," as returned and accepted by the town, April 15, 
1777, was not satisfactory to a majority of the town's peo- 
ple, for at a special town meeting held October 9, 1777, a 
vote was passed "to reconsider the vote passed to accept 
the report of the committee in regard to what each man 
had done in the present war." "Voted to choose Lieuten- 
ant Ezekiel Hills, John Caldwell, John Hale, Lieutenant 
William Merrill and Samuel Wason to set a valuation 
upon what had been done towards carrying on the present 
war, and to make report thereof to the town." 



242 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



The report of this committee was returned at a town 
meeting, December 22, 1777, which report was not record- 
ed, but the original report has been discovered, of which 
the following is a copy. 



Portsmouth Men. 





y- 


N° 


mos. 


N° dollars 


Daniel Hardy, 


1777. 




1 


3.00 


Joseph Cross, 


1777. 




1 


3.00 


Captain Samuel Marsh, By his son, 


1777. 




1 


3.00 


Benningi 


on Men. 










yr. 


No 


mos. 


N° dollars 


Captain James Ford, 


1777. 




2 


28.00 


Ensign Nathaniel Merrill, 


1777. 




2 


28.00 


Page Smith, 


1777. 




2 


28.00 


Samuel Smith, 


1777. 




2 


2800 


John Pollard, Jr., 


1777. 




2 


28.00 


Timothy Smith, By his Son, 


1777. 




2 


28.00 


Jonathan Bradley, and 

Thomas Hamblet, in equal shares, 


K- 




2 


28.00 


Samuel Wason, 


1777. 




2 


28.00 


Joseph Winn, Jr., By his Son, 


1777. 




2 


28.00 


Lieutenant Peter Cross, By his Son, 


1777. 




2 


2S.00 


Ensign John Pollard, By his Son, 


1777. 




2 


28.00 


Isaac Barrett, 


1777. 




2 


28.00 


Eliphalet Hadley, Jr., 


1777. 




2 


28.00 


John Hale, 


1777. 




2 


28.00 


John Merrill, 


1777. 




2 


28.00 


Justus Dakin, 


1777. 




2 


28.00 


Joseph Blodgett, By his Son, 


1777. 




2 


28.00 


Moses Johnson, By his Son, 


1777. 




2 


28.00 


The Volunteers. 












Wee 


ks 


Dollars 


Lieutenant David Cummings, 




3 




7.00 


Ensign Elijah Hills, 




3 




7.00 


Asa Davis, Esq., 




3 




7.00 


Sergeant Henry Hale, Jr., 




3 




7.00 


Corp, Samuel Marsh, By his Son 


, 


3 




7.00 


Deacon Ebenezer Cummings, Hy 


his Son, 


:{ 




7.00 


Samuel Pollard, 




3 




7.00 


Abiatha Winn, 




3 




7.00 


Joseph Greeley, 




3 




7.00 



NOTTINGHAM WEST IN THE REVOLUTION 243 

We, the subscribers, being Chosen a Committee to Sett a Value On 
the Several Terms of Service Each man hath clone in this War, have 
agreed as is above described, (Viz.) That those that served one month at 
Portsmouth Shall have Each man 3 Dollars. Those at Bennington 2 
Months 28 Do. Each, and the Valuation at Stillwater 3 Weeks, 7 Do. 
Each. And the men that turned out on the Alarm Last Summer by Or- 
der ^"0— 2 s — 9 d Pr. Day. 

Ezekiel Hills, "| 

John Hale, | 

Samuel Wason, ^Committee. 

William Merrill, | 

John Caldwell, J 

During the first and second years of the war, many 
men from Nottingham West had performed military duty 
in the army at Bunker Hill, Cambridge, New York and 
other places, whose names are not included in the fore- 
going report. 

They had probably received payment for their services 
through the officers and paymasters of the Continental 
Army. 

"It was put to vote to see if the Town would accept 
of the report of the committee that was chosen to settle 
what each man hath done in this Town in this present war. 
Voted in the Negative. It was put to vote to see if they 
would accept any part of the report of the above commit- 
tee. Voted in the Affirmative. It was put to vote to see 
if the Town will pay any money back to those persons that 
have over done their Rates in the war. Voted in the Neg- 
ative. Made choice of Asa Davis, Esq., to collect the war 
Rates this present year." 

The protracted and sanguine struggle for American 
Independence caused the colonists at home, as well as 
those at the front of war, much anxiety and distress. Fre- 
quent town meetings were held and action taken to meet 
the demands of the occasion. Terms of enlistment of the 
soldiers were, in many cases short, and hence new calls for 
troops had to be made. There was no unified svstem of 
government, which caused great confusion and often entire 
lack of harmony between the different provinces. This 



244 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

fact, coupled with others that might be mentioned, not the 
least of the latter being the straits of the colonists to raise 
sufficient funds to carry on the conflict, became a leading 
topic of the day. At a special town meeting held Febru- 
ary 9, 1778, Nottingham West 

Voted. To accept of all and every of the Articles of Confederation 
excepting the first clause of the 9th Article, and the whole of 13th Article. 

A little over a month later, at the annual meeting 
March 16, John Caldwell, Captain Marsh, Dea. Ebenezer 
Cummings, Thomas Smith and George Burns were chosen 
a "Committee of Safety and inspection for the present 
year." At a special meeting held two weeks later, William 
Burns was chosen "to sit in the Convention at Concord, in 
order to form a new plan of Government." 

At this same meeting it was "Voted to allow Gideon 
Butler for the service he has done in the war equal with 
others in the Town that served the same term of time." 

June 24, 1778, in the midst of threatening rumors in 
regard to the movements of the enemy, another special 
meeting was called, when "The Town voted to choose a 
committee. Viz: Asa Davis, Esq., William Burns, Timo- 
thy Smith, Ens. David Lawrence, Dea. Ebenezer Cum- 
mings, Ens. Daniel Hardy, Lieut. John Haseltine, Jr. and 
Empower them to hire and agree with any men or number 
of men, and what sum of money they will give, provided at 
any time the militia should be called upon to march in 
order to stop our enemy on any sudden emergency." 

On November 2, at a special meeting, the town voted 
that what was formerly Nottingham West should pay the 
six hundred dollars, which had been paid by subscription, 
to Richard Cutter and John Campbell for service in the 
war during the current year.* Capt. Abraham Page, for 
some reason not stated, objected to this action. The fam- 
ilies whose heads were in the army were voted two hun- 
dred dollars, or thirty-six pounds, each. 



1778 was the year of the annexation of Londonderry Clai 



NOTTINGHAM WEST IN THE REVOLUTION 245 

At the annual town meeting, March 1, 1779, the num- 
ber of the selectmen, which had been three each year since 
1749, was increased to five. The board chosen at this time 
consisted of Capt. Samuel Marsh, Ens. David Lawrence, 
Moses Johnson, Samuel Wason and Samuel Greeley, num- 
bered among the most able and patriotic men of the town. 
This was the darkest period of the Revolution, as related 
to the finances of the war, when strong men were needed 
as leaders to manage the business affairs of the town. This 
explains the increase in the number of the board, as well 
as the care with which they were selected. It was only a 
little while prior to this that Washington had written: 

"Our affairs are in a more distressed, ruinous and de- 
plorable condition than they have been since the com- 
mencement of the war." 

This fact was due largely to the state of the finances. 
The currency had depreciated greatly during the last year, 
and with but vague hopes of a successful termination of 
the war, it was likely to continue its downward tendency. 
In the face of this, blindly hoping to help the situation, 
Congress voted to issue one hundred and thirty-one mil- 
lions of dollars in Continental bills. The very magnitude 
of the issue served to depreciate the market value of a dol- 
lar, especially with a government lacking credit and divided 
in its own management. 

"A wagon load of money," Washington wrote to the 
President of Congress, "will not purchase a wagon load of 
provisions." 

The depreciation in the currency during the year 1779 
was more than five-fold, and where at the beginning of the 
year one dollar had the purchasing power of twelve and 
one-half cents, at the close it had fallen to a small fraction 
above two cents! In other words, where in January it re- 
quired eight dollars to purchase the normal value of one 
dollar, in the following December it required $41.50. 

In the distress of this period the town voted to take 
care of the families of the soldiers. But it refused to pay 



24(5 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Benjamin Whittemore one hundred dollars in behalf of his- 
son for services in the Continental Army. April 5, a com- 
mittee was elected similar to one chosen the year before 
to look after "and agree with men as they think proper to 
stop our enemy on any emergency." This committee con- 
sisted of Timothy Smith, Samuel Pollard, Capt. Moses 
Barrett, Daniel Marshall, Dea. Ebenezer Cummings, Wil- 
liam Burns and Samuel Wason. 

June 21, the selectmen were allowed their accounts for 
money "paid to sundry persons in procuring soldiers for 
the Cont 1 army: Viz: Jonathan Perry, a 150, also £60 to 
James Brown, Likewise ,£20 to Capt. James Ford." It 
was also voted to give the selectmen "discretionary power 
to hire and agree with the remainder of our present Cota of 
men for the Cont 1 army during the war." September 13, 
the following accounts or bounties were allowed: 

What was paid Isaac Foot, Viz : 33 bushels Indian Corn & SOjC in 
cash — 277-10-1. Also allowed SO bushels Indian Corn to Roger Merrill — 
;£375-00-0. Likewise allowed ^"90 that was paid Jon. Cook, it being a 
Town Bounty £7S; also allowed value at £15; Likewise 13 1-2 bushels 
of Indian Com & 6 1-2 do of Rye. 

Also allowed to James Pemberton 60 bushels of Indian Corn — ^450- 

At this meeting the town refused to accept the Decla- 
ration of Rights and plan of Government, as offered by the 
provincial convention, which had recently convened. 

November 1, a committee was chosen to state the 
prices of articles bought and sold in town, and the names 
of this board were Thomas Marsh, Ens. Nathaniel Davis, 
Lieut. Ezekiel Hills, Daniel Marshall, John Hale, Lieut. 
Peter Cross and Timothy Smith. The report of this com- 
mittee was accepted at an adjourned meeting, November 
15, but it was not recorded. 

At the annual meeting, March 6, 1780, the selectmen 
were allowed "the interest money they have paid for pro- 
curing Soldiers for the army in the year 1779." 

It was also voted at this time to raise eight hundred 
pounds of lawful money to repair the highways, "and that 



NOTTINGHAM WEST IN THE REVOLUTION 247 

labor be set at ^"4-lOs a day per man till the last of Au- 
gust, and after that £3 Do. and a pair of oxen to be half as 
much as a man." This shows the great depreciation of 
the currency., when it required four pounds and ten shil- 
lings of lawful money to pay a man for a day's labor on 
the highway. 

July 3, 1780, at a town meeting held at the house of 
Samuel Greeley, Innholder, 

Voted as a Town to hire six soldiers for the teim of six months to 
join the Continental army and chose a committee to effect the same : 
Namely, Asa Davis, James Ford & David Lawrence, and likewise gave 
the said committee discretionary power to hire and agree with any men or 
number of men upon any Emergency, in behalf of the Town for the pres- 
ent year. 

February 5, 1781: 

Voted to raise our Quota of men to fill up the Battalion in the Cont 1 
army, and choose a committee in order to procure and agree with the men 
in behalf of the Town : Namely, Timothy Smith, Captain Samuel Marsh, 
Daniel Marshall, Lt. Ezekiel Hills, Lieut. David Cummings. 

One month later, at the annual meeting held March 5, 
1781, it was voted to give the "committee last chosen dis- 
cretionary power to agree with the soldiers for young cat- 
tle, and to give them obligations for the same in behalf of 
the Town." 

Three thousand pounds was voted at this meeting as 
the sum to be raised by the town for the repair of high- 
ways, and twelve pounds was fixed as the price of labor per 
day for a man, and six pounds for a yoke of oxen. 

At a special meeting, May 8, 1781, Timothy Smith was 

elected to represent the town at Concord, on the first 

Tuesday of June following "in order for the forming a plan 

of Government." 

Received of Hugh Smith, one of the Constables for the year 1780, 
four hundred and thirty four bushels, eleven quarts one pint in full of his 
Corn Rate. 

We say Rec'd by us. 

Asa Davis, Selectmen of Nottingham 

David Lawrence, West, for ye year 1780. 
James Ford. 
July ye 12th. 1781. 



248 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

July 9, 1781, it was voted to pay the beef tax "already 
assessed into the State Treasury, as much as is needed to 
make up the deficiency of the Cont. tax." 

It was voted that the same committee chosen the pre- 
vious year should "hire and agree with soldiers in behalf 
of ye Town as occasion may require." 

At a meeting July 30, 1781 : 

Voted to choose a committee to raise ye soldiers that is and may be 
called for this present year and gave them discretionary power to give 
their obligations in behalf of the Town. Voted that said committee con- 
sist of three men. Viz. Captain Peabody, Lt. Peter Cross, Ens. Elijah 
Hills. 

Voted that ye obligations which the committee has given to ye sol- 
diers forcorn in behalf ye Town, that the rate therefor be made in corn 
only without mentioning money. 

The corn rate as assessed by the selectmen amounted 
to 563 bushels, twenty quarts and one pint. 
April 15, 1782: 

An article in the warrant at this time to see if the 
town would vote to obtain several continental soldiers for 
three years or during the war was not carried, but at an 
adjourned meeting, April 17, a committee consisting of 
Joseph Greeley, Lt. Reuben Spalding and Ens. Nathaniel 
Davis was chosen "to hire several Continental soldiers for 
three years or during the war, and give them power as they 
see fit." 

Again May 13, 1782, it was 

Voted to choose a committee to raise the Continental soldiers called 
for. Namely, Maj. James P'ord, Captain Cummings, Ens. Elijah Hills, 
Jeremiah Hills, Joseph Blodgett, Ens. Sim. Barrett, Lt. Ezekiel Hills. 
Seth Hadley, Henry Hale, Lef. Hen. Tarbox, l.ef. Benj Kidder and Seth 
Wicom : 

Voted to impower this committee in behalf of the Town to give their 
private security for to hire s'd soldiers not to exceed 100 dollars for each 
soldier yearly for three years. 

Voted to allow Jeremiah Blodgett the depreciation of the town mon- 
ey that sunk on his hands. 

September 16, 1782. 



NOTTINGHAM WEST IN THE REVOLUTION 249 

Voted to allow Capt. Marsh and Capt. Cummings the sixty bushels 
of corn they engaged to a soldier this year. 

Voted and allowed the constable to take one silver dollar in lew of 
four New Emission dollars. 

November 25, 1782. 

Voted to accept the new plan of Government as it now stands, with 
two amendments ; to wit'ly : 

That every man in the Town or parish shall pay to the support of the 
Gospel, where he lives, unless he maketh it appear that he attends else- 
where. 

The 16th article in the Bill of Rights not accepted. 

The corn rates were still causing trouble, and May 26, 
1783, Capt. Samuel Marsh was chosen "to see what meth- 
od the Town will take to recover the remainder of the Corn 
Rate that is due to the Town in the constable's hands." 

The foregoing transcripts from the town records con- 
tain substantially all of the more important actions of the 
town in relation to the Revolutionary war as found upon 
the accounts of the forty-five town meetings — annual and 
special— held from March 21, 1775, to September 8, 1783. 

A study of these records shows something of the deep, 
underlying anxiety accompanying the history of those eight 
long, dreary years of the Revolutionary period. Despite 
the many discouragements and adversities that beset their 
attempt, our brave ancestors — few in numbers — there were 
only about three millions of inhabitants in the thirteen 
United Colonies — with little wealth, and, at the beginning, 
no organized army, achieved a wonderful victory against 
one of the greatest and most powerful nations of the world, 
Great Britain. 



CHAPTER XXI 

Dark Days of the Revolution 

The history of the Revolution, which should be of the 
greatest interest to every true American citizen, has been 
written and published many times, so it does not seem to 
come within the province of this work to enter into its de- 
tails, except as it concerns directly the patriotic people of 
old Nottingham West now known as Hudson. Mr. Fox, in 
his History of Old Dunstable Township, says: 

"From the commencement of the Revolutionary diffi- 
culties, a deep and universal feeling of indignation pervaded 
the community. The men who had settled the wilderness, 
and defended their homes from the attack of the Indian en- 
emy; and had built them up a great and goodly heritage, 
unaided by stepdame England, were not the men to quietly 
yield up their dear-bought rights without a struggle. 

"Their love for the mother country was never very 
strong, for there was little cause for gratitude, and the first 
appearance of oppression and wrong was the signal for re- 
sistance. 

"This feeling was stronger in New England than in 
the other colonies, and manifested itself at an earlier date, 
because the Puritans, having been forced to leave their 
Fatherland by oppression and insults, and having made for 
themselves a new home in the wilderness, unassisted and 
unprotected, felt it a more grievous and insufferable wrong, 
that England should seize upon the first moment of pros- 
perity, to heap upon them new oppressions and new in- 
sults here. 

"The division of New England into townships — those 
little democracies as they were aptly called — each self-gov- 
erned, where every citizen feels that he is a part of the 
commonwealth, has municipal rights and duties, and 
250 



DARK DAYS OF THE REVOLUTION 251 

learns to think and act for himself, was an excellent school 
for training up the Fathers of our Republic, and teaching 
them the principles of self-government upon a more ex- 
tended scale. During the long succession of encroach- 
ments, which preceded and caused the Revolution, the in- 
habitants of this town were not indifferent. They had 
watched the storm as it gathered, and knew its consequen- 
ces must be momentous." 

What Mr. Fox wrote in relation to the inhabitants of 
Dunstable, now Nashua, was equally true of Nottingham 
West, and a majority of the other New England towns. 
Their interests were identical, and with the exception of a 
few Loyalists or Tories in some towns, they arose as one 
man and subscribed the pledge that "We, the subscribers, 
do hereby solemnly engage and promise that we will, to the 
utmost of our power, at the risk of our lives and fortunes, 
with arms oppose the Hostile Proceedings of the British 
Fleets and Armies against the United American Colonies." 

There could be no misunderstanding as to the meaning 
of that statement, brief, plain and to the point. And after 
a long and bloody struggle of eight years' duration, they 
fully redeemed their pledge, winning from the mother 
country a full and significant victory, which included a rec- 
ognized independence. 

From the first the people of New England, who, as 
the royalists complained, "had never set a good example 
of obedience," had been apparently desirous and prepared 
for a collision. Thus, the news of the clash of arms at 
Lexington was no surprise to them, and the swift-footed 
messenger who carried the news of battle to the men up 
the Merrimack valley was not swifter than they in their 
response to the summons. 

In that grand rush to the front, the citizens of Not- 
tingham W 7 est were among the most zealous of the aroused 
patriots. The military spirit transmitted from their fa- 
thers, re-enforced by their own experience in the frontier 
wars, especially by many who had served under Rogers 



252 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

and Stark throughout the French and Indian conflict, was 
awakened into activtiy by the forerunners of the coming 
danger. 

Shortly before midnight on the 18th of April, 1775, a 
detachment of British troops, numbering eight hundred 
men, under the command of Lieut. Col. Smith, had been 
conveyed across the Charles River from Boston to Cam- 
bridge. From this place the body of troops began their 
memorable march to Lexington and Concord. The alarm 
of this expedition was immediately spread throughout the 
country by mounted messengers, some of whom had antic- 
ipated the movement. 

The distance from Nottingham West by the roads 
then traveled was about forty miles. According to tradi- 
tion the news reached here before noon of the 19th, and 
was quickly sent in every direction by mounted courier's 
riding to the most remote sections of the town, and, as they 
galloped on their exciting mission, calling out to the inhab- 
itants as they sped on their way a warning note of the im- 
pending invasion by the British Regulars. So swiftly did 
the news spread and so thoroughly aroused were the peo- 
ple that on that very afternoon sixty-five men, equipped 
for war with their muskets and ammunition, met ready to 
march against the enemy. 

It is related by the descendants of Asa Davis, as a fam- 
ily tradition, that when the messenger arrived at his home on 
Bush Hill, he was plowing in the field with his oxen. Upon 
listening to the exciting news Mr. Davis, leaving his oxen 
to be unyoked and cared for by his patriotic wife, Eliza- 
beth, saddled his horse, seized his musket and rode furi 
ously to join the Minute Men already gathering on the 
common at Hudson Center. 

These brave volunteers quickly organized under the 
command of Capt. Samuel Greeley, and awaited his order 
to march to meet the British Red-coats at Lexington. Un- 
fortunately the old military records of this town were lost 
long since, or destroyed. Had they been preserved many 



DARK DAYS OF THE REVOLUTION 253 

interesting facts could have been gleaned from them, which 
are now impossible to obtain. Fortunately, however, the 
muster roll of this company of sixty-five Minute Men, all 
from this town and mustered so quickly that they marched 
that very evening for Lexington, has been preserved. The 
original muster roll of this patriotic band is in the posses- 
sion of the New Hampshire Historical Society at Concord, 
of which the following is a copy: 

Muster Roll of 1775 

A Muster roll of Capt. Samuel Greeleys Compt, who turned out Vol- 
lenteers from Nottingham West in New hampshire at the time of Lexing- 
ton Battle on the 19th of April 1775 * 



Capt. Samuel Greeley 


8 


85 


£2 16 4 


£117 


6 


424 


12 


£16 9 10 


Lieut. Joseph Kelley 


12 


85 


2 16 4 


2 





424 





9 12 4 


Ens. John Pollard 


8 


85 


2 16 4 


19 


6 








3 15 10 


Clerk James Ford 


10 


85 


1 


82 


17 


6 








2 5 8 


Sergt. Wilm. Merrill 


6 


85 


1 


82 


12 


6 








2 8 


Sergt. Wm. Burns 


8 


85 


1 


82 


15 


7 








2 3 9 


Sergt. Ebenezer Pollard 


6 


85 


1 


82 


12 


6 








2 8 


Corpl. Justus Uakin 


6 


85 


1 


82 


11 


9 








119 16 


Corpl. Simeon Berrot 


8 


85 


1 


82 


15 


6 








2 2 8 


Corpl. Jona. Bradley 


6 


85 


1 


82 


11 


9 








1 19 11 


Corpl. John Pollard 


8 


85 


1 


82 


14 


6 








2 2 8 


fifer Benj. Marshall 


6 


85 


1 


82 


11 


6 








1 19 8 


fifer Samll. Currier 


8 


85 


1 


82 


14 


6 








2 2 8 


Samll. Marsh 


6 


85 


1 


82 


10 











1 18 2 


Reuben Spalding 


6 


85 


1 


82 


15 10 








2 4 


Peter Cross 


6 


85 


1 


82 


10 











1 18 2 


Ebenezer Cummings 


6 


85 


1 


82 


10 











1 18 2 


Ebenezer Perry 


10 


85 


1 


82 


14 


8 








2 2 8 


Elijah Hills 


6 


85 


1 


82 


10 











1 18 2 


Ezekiel Hills 


6 


85 


1 


82 


10 











1 18 2 


Jeremiah Hills 


6 


85 


1 


82 


10 











1 18 2 


Samll. Hills 


6 


85 


1 


82 


10 











1 18 2 


Richard Marshall 


6 


85 


1 


82 


10 











1 18 2 


Daniel Hardy 


3 


85 


1 


82 


5 











1 13 2 


Seth Hadley 


6 


85 


1 


8 2 


10 











1 18 2 


Abijah Reed 


10 


85 


1 


82 


14 


8 








2 2 8 



* The first column denotes the number of days in the service; the second, the number 
of miles travelled; third, the compensation at 2d a mile; fourth, amount of wages due; fifth, 
pounds of pork and bread; sixth, gallons of rum; seventh, sum total. 



254 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Richard Cutter 


10 


S5 


1 


82 


14 


8 








2 2 8 


Nehemiah Winn 


11 


85 


1 


82 


15 10 








2 4 


Benja. Whittemore 


6 


85 


1 


82 


10 











1 18 2 


Abathar Winn 


6 


85 


1 


82 


10 











1 18 2 


Stephen Chase, Jr. 


6 


85 


1 


82 


10 











1 18 2 


Joshua Chase 


6 


85 


1 


82 


10 











I 18 2 


John Haseltine 


6 


85 


1 


82 


10 











1 18 2 


David Glover 


6 


85 


1 


82 


10 











1 18 2 


Oliver Hills 


6 


85 


1 


82 


10 











L 18 2 


Page Smith 


6 


85 


1 


82 


10 











1 18 2 


Samll. Campbell 


10 


85 


1 


82 


14 


8 








2 2 8 


Samll. Smith 


6 


85 


1 


82 


10 











1 18 2 


Moses Berrot 


6 


85 


1 


82 


10 











1 18 2 


Richard Hardy 


6 


85 


1 


82 


10 











I 18 2 


Jona. Blodgett 


6 


85 


1 


82 


10 











L 18 2 


Joseph Greeley 


6 


85 


1 


82 


10 











L 18 2 


Samll. Durrent 


6 


85 


1 


82 


10 











L 18 2 


Samll. Moor 


6 


85 


1 


82 


10 











L 18 2 


Andrew Seavey 


6 


85 


1 


82 


10 











L 18 2 


Stephen Chase 


6 


85 


1 


82 


10 











L 18 2 


James Pemberton 


6 


85 


1 


82 


10 











L18 2 


John Osgood 


10 


85 


1 


82 


14 


8 








I 2 8 


Nat. Hardy 


6 


85 


1 


82 


10 











L 18 2 


Benja. Marshall 


6 


85 


1 


82 


10 











L 18 2 


Danl. Marshall 


6 


85 


1 


82 


10 











I 18 2 


John Walker 


8 


85 


1 


82 


12 


4 








I 6 


Joseph Gould Jr 


6 


85 


1 


82 


10 











I 18 2 


John Merrill 


6 


85 


1 


82 


10 











I 18 2 


David Cummings 


6 


85 


1 


82 


10 











[ 18 2 


Thomas Wason 


6 


85 


1 


82 


10 











L 18 2 


Alexander Caldwell 


6 


85 


1 


82 


10 











18 2 


Thomas Caldwell 


6 


85 


1 


82 


10 








1 


18 2 


Asa Davis 


8 


85 


1 


82 


12 


4 





\ 


I 6 


Samll. Wason 


6 


85 


1 


82 


10 








] 


18 2 


Echobad Easman 


6 


85 


1 


82 


10 








o : 


18 2 


Abraham Page 


6 


85 


1 


82 


10 








] 


18 2 


Nat. Davis 


6 


85 


1 


82 


10 








1 


18 2 


John Campbell 


6 


85 


1 


82 


10 








1 


18 2 


Henry Heuey 





85 


1 


82 


10 








1 


18 2 


June the 9th 1791 


the above 


\eturn is 


just & 


tru 


e according 


to the 


best of my judmend pr 


Joseph Kelley 


l.ieut 


the Capt. 


viz. 


Samll. 


Gree- 


ley being moved out of Town. 



















DARK DAYS OF THE REVOLUTION 255 

Rockingham SS. 

Personally Appeared the above named Joseph Kelley Lieut, of Sd. 
Compt. and after being Duly Caustion made Solemn oath that the above 
Return is Just & True According to the Best of his Knowledge 
Before me. 

JAMES GIBSON 

Just. Peace 
June ye 9th 1791. 

Personal Sketches 

Capt. Samuel Greeley was born in Haverhill, Mass., 
May 10, 1721, and was fifty-four years old. Ezekiel Hills 
was fifty-seven, and Abraham Page, probably the oldest 
man in the company, was sixty years of age. Joseph Gree- 
ley, son of Captain Greeley, and David Glover were but 
eighteen. The ages of a majority of the company ranged 
from twenty-five to forty years. So the entire enlistment 
was composed of men in the full vigor of manhood, and a 
determined, resolute band. 

Little time was lost in effecting an organization, and 
the company marched post-haste towards Lexington. Be- 
fore reaching their destination they were met by a courier, 
who informed them of the retreat of the enemy, thus they 
returned to Nottingham West. 

Many of these Minute Men immediately enlisted in 
the army at Cambridge, and at least sixteen of them fought 
at the battle of Bunker Hill on the 17th of June, 1775. 
The names of those who figured in that memorable fight 
were — 

Moses Barritt, Benjamin Marshall, 

Robert Bettis, Benjamin Marshall, Jr., 

Josiah Burrows, John Marshall, 

Gideon Butler, William Merrill, 

Joshua Chase, John Osgood, 

Stephen Chase, Jr., James Pemberton, 
Thomas Campbell, Timothy Pollard, 

Samuel Currier, Abijah Reed, Corp., 

Richard Cutter, John Robinson, 



256 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Jonathan Emerson, Caleb Severance, 

James Ford, Lieut., Joshua Severance, 

David Glover, John Seavey, 

Robert Glover, Thomas Senter, Sergt., 

Benjamin Greeley, John Walker, 

Joseph Greeley, Benjamin Whittemore, 

Simeon Hills, Nehemiah Winn, 
David Marsh. 

Five of these men, viz.: Josiah Burrows, Simeon Hills, 
John Marshall, John Robinson and Thomas Senter, were 
residents of that part of Londonderry that was annexed to 
Nottingham West in 1778.* 

It is not known that any fatalities occurred among the 
Nottingham West men at the battle of Bunker Hill. Jos- 
eph Greeley was severely wounded and was carried from 
the field on the backs of his comrades, when the patriot 
troops were forced to retreat. Young Greeley thus es- 
caped being made a prisoner, and eventually recovered 
from his wound Richard Cutter, who was serving as a 
substitute for his son Seth, was also wounded. He and 
Seth, his son, who did service in the colonial army at Cam- 
bridge the same year, have been sometimes credited to 
Pelham. But Richard Cutter was a resident of this town 
at that time, and continued to live here until his death 
April 8, 1795. Seth, his son, who was only seventeen 
years old at the battle of Bunker Hill, was living here in 
this town with his father, where he continued to live until 
his marriage to Abiah Tallant, of Pelham, September 11, 
1781, when he became a resident of Pelham. 

Robert Bettis has also been credited to Pelham by 
some writers, while Abijah Reed and Jonathan Emerson 
have been credited to Nashua. Abijah Reed was assessed 



* The New Hampshire Manual, Vol. 6, 1899, also credits to this town James D»vis, 
Thomas Knnwlton and James Winn, all privates in Stark's Regiment, but the writer cannot 
trace them as residents of Nottingham West at that time. It is a well established tradition 
in the Marsh family that Jonathan Marsh, brother of David, fought at the battle of Bunker 
Hill, and that he killed one of the enemy and captured his gun. — K. W. 






DARK DAYS OF THE REVOLUTION 257 

here in 1774, and almost continually after that until 1790. 
Bettis and Emerson were assessed here in 1774, and for 
several years previous. 

Ten of these men were in Capt. Archelaus Towne's 
company, Col. John Stark's regiment. Captain Towne 
was of Amherst. Eight of these men were in Capt. Levi 
Spalding's company, Col. James Reed's regiment. Cap- 
tain Spalding was a native of this town, born October 23, 
1737, and he lived here until 1765, when he removed to 
Lyndeborough, where he remained until his death. Six 
others of these men from Nottingham West served in Cap- 
tain William Walker's company, Colonel Reed's regiment. 
Captain Walker was of Dunstable. The other eight men 
were in different companies and regiments. 

The Ticonderoga Alarm 

In June, 1777, General Burgoyne, with his fleet, and 
army, advanced up Lake Champlain towards the important 
fortress at Ticonderoga, until reaching Crown Point, a few 
miles distant, where he halted. The news of this threat- 
ening movement spread swiftly over the country, and be- 
came known as "The Ticonderoga Alarm." A company 
was quickly formed at Nottingham West to start to the 
scene of war. The officers included, thirty-five men enlist- 
ed for this expedition. The heading of the pay-roll of this 
company is as follows: 

"Pay roll of a number of men Under the command of 
Capt. James Ford who marched from Nottingham W 7 est 
for Ticonderoga in June and July 1777. 

"Marched the first time as far as Dublin where we 
met an express Odering us home where we Arrived on the 
5th of July. 

"The 6th we were Ordered out again and marched as 
far as Number four where we met Col° Ashley who in- 
formed us of the evacuation of the Fort. 

"On which we returned home " 



258 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



The names of these men, all from this town, were as 
follows: 



James Ford, Captain, 
William Burns, Sergt., 
Jonathan Hardy, Corp 1 , 
Thomas Pollard, 
John Chase, 
Stephen Chase, 
Joseph Johnson, 
Joseph Winn, 
James Caldwell, 
Amos Pollard, 
Justus Dakin, 
Joseph Greeley, 
Asa Davis, 
Jonathan Bradley, 
Page Smith, 
Samuel Smith, 
Joseph Cross, 



Samuel Marsh, 
William Hills, 
Moses Hadley, 
Thomas Hills, 
Philip Hills, 
Samuel French, 
George Burns, 
Isaac Merrill, 
David Cummings, 
Elijah Hills, 
Alexander Caldwell, 
Samuel Pollard, 
William Merrill, 
John Caldwell, 
Nicholas Eastman, 
Daniel Hardy, 
Isaac Hardy, 



Abijah Reed. 

These men received three shillings each, per day for 
their services, which, in the depreciated currency of that 
date, was not very large wages. 

This was one of the dark and discouraging periods of 
the Revolutionary War. The condition of affairs in New 
England at this time is aptly described by one of its his- 
torians in speaking of the military affairs in July, 1777:* 

In consequence of the evacuation of Ticonderoga by the Americans, 
and the southerly movement of the British force under Burgoyne threat- 
ening the subjugation of New England, the Committee of Safety of this 
state decided, on the 14th day of July, to call the legislature together for 
consultation, and accordingly sent notices to the members requesting 
them to meet on the 17th of the month. 

In answer to the summons the council and house of representatives 
met on the day appointed, and immediately resolved themselves into a 
committee of the whole to join the Committee of Safety for a conference. 






Isaac W. Hammond, in "Revolutionary War Rolls," Vol. 2, page 139. 



DARK DAYS OF THE REVOLUTION 259 

The state was at the time destitute of money and means, and had 
done all that the citizens generally supposed it could do in the way of fur- 
nishing troops; but the alternative was before them of assisting to check 
the advance of Burgoyne's army by sending a force to Vermont, or of 
having the battlefield of the future transferred to their own territory. 

On the second day of this special session, the committee of the whole 
recommended that the militia of the state be divided into two brigades, 
the first to comprise the regiments in the eastern portion of the state 
under the command of Brigadier General William Whipple, and the sec- 
ond to comprise those in the western portion of the state, and be under 
the command of Brigadier General John Stark. The committee also rec- 
ommended that four companies of rangers be raised in the second brigade 
to scout the frontier, under the orders of General Stark. 

These recommendations were adopted by the legislature the same 
day. Letters from Ira Allen, secretary of the Council of Safety of Ver- 
mont, earnestly entreating that troops be sent to their assistance, were 
then read in the committee of the whole, of which Hon. Mesech Weare 
was chairman. 

The matter of furnishing men was fully discussed, and it was gener- 
ally conceded that the exigency of the occasion iequired the raising and 
forwarding of a portion of the militia at once. The main question was as 
to obtaining money to pay and equip them. The treasury of the state was 
empty, and no way of replenishing it presented itself, until the patriotic 
John Langdon arose and said: 

"I have one thousand dollars in hard money. I will pledge my plate 
for three thousand more. I have seventy hogsheads of Tobago rum, 
which I will sell for the most it will biing. They are all at the service of 
the state. 

" If we succeed in defending our firesides and our homes, I may be 
remunerated. If we do not, then the property will be of no value to me. 
Our friend Stark, who so nobly maintained the honor of our state at Bun- 
ker Hill, may safely be entrusted with the honor of the enterprise and we 
will check the progress of Burgoyne." 

This patriotic appeal was received with enthusiasm, and the legisla- 
ture at once voted that one-fourth of Stark's brigade, and one-fourth of 
Thornton's, Badger's and Webster's regiments, of General Whipple's 
brigade, be drafted and marched immediately for the defense cf this and 
neighboring states. 

This force was to be under the command of General Stark, who ac- 
cepted the commission with the understanding that he was to exercise his 
own judgment in the management of his troops, and be accountable to 
and take orders from the authorities of New Hampshire, and no other. 

A draft was unnecessary, men enlisted with alacrity and were for- 
warded to Charlestown by detachments, that place having been desig- 
nated for rendezvous. 



260 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

As soon as 500 men had arrived in Charlestown, the impetuous Stark 
moved on with them to Manchester, Vermont, leaving orders for others 
to follow. They reached that place August 7, were re-enforced by some 
of the "Green Mountain Boys," and received information of the enemy's 
intention to capture the stores at Bennington. 

He pressed forward, and reached that town on the 9th, accompanied 
by Col. Seth Warner. 

The battle occurred on the 16th, and the result, as is well known, 
cheered and encouraged the Americans, disheartened the enemy, and led 
to the surrender of Burgoyne's army at Saratoga on the 17th of October 
following. The brigade under Stark was organized into three repiments, 
commanded respectively by Colonels Moses Nichols of Amherst, Thomas 
Stickney of Concord, and David Hobart of Plymouth. 

Nottingham West Soldiers at Bennington 

Capt. James Ford of this town, commanded a com- 
pany of fifty-six men at Bennington, which company was 
in Col. Moses Nichols' regiment, of Gen. John Stark's 
brigade. This body of troops was raised July 20, 1777, and 
discharged September 19, with an allowance of nine days 
for travel. 

The names of men from Nottingham West, as found 
in the pay-roll of the company, are as follows: 

James Ford, Captain, Stephen Hadley, 

John Merrill, Sergeant, Joseph Johnson, 

Justus Dakin, Corporal, Jonathan Marsh, 

James Pemberton, Corporal, Thomas Pollard, 
Joseph Blodgett, Samuel Smith, 

Joseph Cross, Caleb Severance, 

Seth Cutter, Joseph Winn. 

Possibly a few other men from this town served in the 
Bennington campaign, but their names are not found in 
the pay-rolls. The report of the committee, as submitted 
to the town, December 22, 1777, a copy of which may be 
found in a former chapter, seems to show that the town 
paid for the services of eighteen men, $28 each. The fore- 
going list contains but fourteen names. 

In the committee's report the names of Peter Cross, 
Joseph Blodgett, Moses Johnson, Ens. John Pollard, Tim- 



DARK DAYS OF THE REVOLUTION 261 

othy Smith and Joseph Winn, are each credited for the ser- 
vices of his son. The names of five of these sons, as they 
appear in the pay-roll are Joseph Blodgett, Joseph Cross, 
Joseph Johnson, Thomas Pollard and Joseph Winn. The 
son of Timothy Smith cannot be traced in the pay-roll. 
He may have furnished some other man as a substitute. 

The names of Seth Cutter, Stephen Hadley, Jonathan 
Marsh, James Pemberton and Caleb Severance appear in 
the pay-roll, but are not found in the report of the com- 
mittee. They probably served as substitutes for five of 
the men whose names are included in the committee's re- 
turn. 

That report included the following names that are not 
accounted for in any way by the pay-roll, Timothy Smith 
included: Isaac Barrett, John Hale, Eliphalet Hadley, Jr., 
Jonathan Bradley and Thomas Hamblet in equal shares, 
Ens. Nathaniel Merrill, John Pollard, Jr., Timothy Smith, 
Page Smith and Samuel Wason. 

This would indicate that nine substitutes were fur- 
nished by these men, unless some of them served person- 
ally, which is not very probable. Five of these substitutes 
are accounted for in the pay-roll. This would leave four, 
who may have been in Captain Ford's company, but were 
residents of other towns, but whose names cannot be iden- 
tified. 

Captain Ford was severely wounded at the battle of 
Bennington, as appears by the Revolutionary War Rolls, 
Vol. 3, page 382. 

State of New This May certify That James Ford Esq r 

Hampshire being a Captain in ye Detachment commanded 

by Me upon the Right wing of Genl. Starks Brigade in the Battle of Wal- 
loomsuck Hill (so called) Near Bennington on the 16th of Aug. 1777, was 
Very badly wounded by Two Musket Balls which pass'd through his Two 
Thighs. 

MOSES NICHOLS Col. 

Soon after the discharge and return of Captain Ford's 
company, a body of volunteers numbering thirty-five, prin- 



262 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

cipally from Dunstable and Nottingham West, was raised, 
commanded by Lieutenant Samuel Brown, in Col. Daniel 
Moore's troops, which company marched from Dunstable 
and joined the Northern Continental Army at Saratoga, 
September, 1777. The time of service of these men was 
from September 29 to October 28, one month, with an al- 
lowance for travel of 170 miles each way, to Saratoga and 
return. There were nine men from Nottingham West in 
this company, as follows: 

Elijah Hills, 2d Lieut., Asa Davis, 

Joseph Greeley, Sergt., Henry Hale, Jr., 

David Cummings, Samuel Marsh, 

William Cummings, William Gibson, 

Richard Cutter. 

Nottingham West Volunteers to Rhode Island in 
August, 1778 

A brigade was raised in the summer of 1778 to re- 
inforce the Continental army at Rhode Island in prepara- 
tion for an attack upon the British troops then in posses- 
sion of the island of Rhode Island. In this assault it was 
expected that a powerful French fleet, then on the coast, 
under the command of Admiral Count D'Estaing, would 
co-operate with the American army. 

The first week in August a company of volunteers to 
aid in the expedition, was raised from this and adjoining 
towns. This company, including officers, consisted of 
fifty-four men, twenty of whom were residents of Notting- 
ham West. These troops were commanded by Capt. Peter 
Cross, of this town, and was the fourth company of the 
regiment commanded by Col. Moses Nichols of Amherst, 
in General Whipple's brigade. 

The men were in the service from the 7th to the 27th 
and some to the 28th of August, when they were dis- 
charged, without having accomplished the purpose of the 
campaign, on account of disaster to the French fleet owing 



DARK DAYS OF THE REVOLUTION 



263 



to a coast storm, which prevented it from joining in the 
proposed efforts of the land force. 

The wages of the private soldier in this expedition 
was at the rate of £b per month and 8d per mile for trav- 
el one hundred miles each way. These men were also paid 
something additional by the town. This was a body of 
mounted troops, and each man had to furnish his own 
horse. Colonel Nichols' return showed there were fifty- 
four horses in the company, and .£10 each was allowed for 
these. The names of the men from this town were 



Peter Cross, Captain, 
Ebenezer Perry, Ensign, 
Samuel Pollard, Sergeant, 
Daniel Marshall, Sergeant, 
William Cummings, Corporal, 
Jonathan Burbank, 
Gideon Butler, 
John Caldwell, 
Samuel Campbell, 
Micajah Chase, 



Stephen Chase, 
Robert Glover, 
Isaac Hardy, 
Joseph Johnson, 
Samuel Marsh, 
Joseph Marshall, 
David Peabody, 
James Pemberton, 
Abijah Reed, 
Joshua Severance. 



CHAPTER XXII 

Soldiers in the Revolution and War of 1812 

This list of Nottingham West — now Hudson — soldiers 
in the Revolution, showing service or term of enlistment, 
and where buried so far as can be ascertained, has been 
compiled with great care, from "Revolutionary War Rolls," 
edited by Isaac W. Hammond, A. M., town records and 
other data, and is believed to be substantially correct. It 
is subject, however, to such unavoidable omissions of any 
names of soldiers as could not be found upon any of the 
rolls examined. 

"1775 L.," denotes the minute men enlisted April 19, 
1775, for Lexington, in Captain Samuel Greeley's Com- 
pany; "B. H.," at the Battle of Bunker Hill; "Cam." Cam- 
bridge; "C. A.," Continental Army; "Port.," in garrison 
at Portsmouth; "Wh. P.," at White Plains, N. Y.; "N. 
A.," Northern Army on the northern frontier and in Can- 
ada; "Ti.." Ticonderoga Alarm, June 1777; "Ben.," in 
Captain James Ford's Company at Bennington, July, 1777; 
"Sa.," Saratoga; "N. Y.," Fort George, N. Y.; "R. I.," in 
Captain Peter Cross' mounted company at Rhode Island, 
1778; "Blodgett," denotes the Blodgett Cemetery; "Farms," 
the Hills Farms Cemetery; "Center," the ancient ceme- 
tery at Hudson Center. 

Barrett, Moses, 1775 L., B. H., Cam., 6 mos. 

llarrett, Simeon, Corp., 1775 I.., Center. 

Barker, Thomas, 1777 C. A., 3 yrs. 

Bettis, Robert, 1775 B. H., Cam., 8 mos. 

Blodgett, Ashael, 1777 N. V., 3 mos. 

Blodgett, Jonathan, 1775 I.., Blodgett. 

Blodgett, Joseph, 1777 Ben., 2 mos., Blodgett. 

Bradley, Jonathan, Corp., 1775 L., 1777 Ti., 6 ds. 

Bradbury, Sanders, 1777 Serg. C. A., 3 yrs. Died in the army 1779. 

Brown, Eliphalet, 1781 C. A., 3 yrs. 

264 



SOLDIERS IN THE REVOLUTION AND WAR OF l8l2 265 

Brown, James, 1779 C. A. For the war. 

Brown, Samuel, 1782 C. A., 3 yrs. 

Burns, George, 1777 TL, 8 ds. 

Burns, William, Serg., 1775 L., 1777 Ti., 14 ds., Blodgett. 

Burbank, Jonathan, 1776 Wh. P., 3 mos., 1778 R. I., 23 ds., Blodgett. 

Burrows, Josiah, 1775 B. H., Cam., 6 mos. 

Butler, Gideon, 1775 B. H., Cam., 8 mos., 1778 R. I., 23 ds. 

Caldwell, Alexander, 1775 L., 1777 Ti., 8 ds. 

Caldwell, John, Serg., 1776 N. A., 4 mos., 1777 Ti., 5 ds., 1778 R. I., 
24 ds. 

Caldwell, James, Ti., 6 ds., Blodgett. 

Caldwell, Samuel, 1776 N. A., 4 mos. 

Caldwell, Thomas, 1775 L., 1776 N. A., 4 mos., 1777 Lieut. N. A., 
28 ds. 

Campbell, John, 1778 R. I., 6 mos. 

Campbell, Samuel, 1775 L., 1778 R. L, 24 ds. 

Campbell, Thomas, 1775 B. H., Cam., 8 mos. 

Carlton, Ezra, 1781 C. A. For the war. 

Chase, Ephraim Chandler, 1776 N. A., 4 mos. 

Chase, John, 1777 Ti., 6 ds., 1799 Port., 2 mos., Blodgett. 

Chase, Joshua, 1775 L., B. H., Cam., 8 mos., 1779 N. A., 4 mos. 1779 
C. A., Blodgett. 

Chase, Micajah, 1776 N. A., 4 mos., 1778 R. I., 23 ds. 

Chase ; Stevens, 1775 L. 

Chase, Stephen, Jr., 1775 L., B. H., Cam., 8 mos., 1777 Ti., 6 ds., 1778 
R. I., 14 ds. 

Colburn, Isaac, 1779 Port., 2 mos. 

Cook, John, 1779 C. A., 1 year. 

Cross, Joseph, 1777 Ti., 14 ds., 1777 Ben., 2 mos., Port., 1 mo. 

Cross, Nathan, 1779 R. I., 6 mos., 1781 C. A., 3 mos. 

Cross, Peter, 1775 L., 1778 Captain R. I., 24 ds., Blodgett. 

Cross, Thomas, 1781 C. A., 3 mos. 

Cummings, David, 1775 L., 1777 Ti., 8 ds., 1777 Sa., 1 mo. 

Cummings, Ebenezer, 1775 L. 

Cummings, William, 1777 N. Y., 3 mos., 1777 Sa., 1 mo., 1778 Corp, 
R. I., 23 ds. 

Currier, Samuel, Fifer, 1775 L., B. H., Cam., 8 mos. 

Cutter, Richard, 1775 L., B. H., Cam., 1 mo.. 1777 Sa., 1 mo., 1778 R. 
I 6 mos. and 20 ds., Wounded at Bunker Hill, Center. 

Cutter, Seth, 1775 Cam., 1777 Ben., 2 mos. 

Cutter, Thomas, 1780 C. A., 6 mos., Navy. 

Dakin, Justus, 1775 L., 1777 Ti., 14 ds., 1777 Corp. Ben., 2 mos.. 

Blodgett. 



266 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Davis, Asa, 1775 L., 1777 Ti., 6 ds., 1777 Sa., 1 mo., Blodgett. 
Davis, Nathaniel, 1775 L., Blodgett. 
Durant, Samuel, 1775 L., 1776 Wh. P., 3 mo. 

Eastman, Ichabod, 1775 L., 1776 N. A., 2 mos, 1776 Wh. P., 3 mos. 

Eastman, James, 1777 C. A., 3 yrs. 

Eastman, Nicholas, 1777 Ti., 5 ds. 

Emerson, Benjamin Hamden, 1776 Wh. P., 3 mos. 

Emerson, Jonathan, 1775 B. H., Cam., 8 mos. 

Farwell, Jonathan, 1781 C, A., 6 mos., 1782 Rangers., 4 mos. 

Ford, James, Clerk, 1775 L., 1775 Lieut. B. H., Cam., 6 mos., 1777 
Capt. Ti., 14 ds., 1777 Capt. Ben., 2 mos. Severely wounded. 

Foot, Isaac, 1779 R. I., 6 mos., 1780 C. A., 6 mos. 

French, Samuel, 1777 Ti., 8 ds., 1777 C. A., 3 yrs. 

Gibson, William, 1777 Sa., 1 mo. 

Glover, David, 1775 L., B. H., Cam. 8 mos., Center. 

Glover, Robert, 1775 B. H., Cam., 8 mos., 1777 R. I., 24 ds. 

Gould, Elijah, 1777 C. A., 3 yrs. 

Gould, Joseph, Jr., 1775 L. Died in the Continental Army, January 
13, 1776. 

Greeley, Benjamin, 1775 B. H., Cam. Died in the army, September 
7, 1775. 

Greeley, Joseph, 1775 L., B. H., Cam., 8 mos., 1777 N. Y., 3 mos., 
1777 Sa., 1 mo. Wounded ai Battle of Bunker Hill. Blodgett. 

Greeley, Samuel, Captain Lexington Company, April 19, 1775. 

Hadley, Enos, 1776 Wh. P., 3 mos. 

Hadley, Moses, 1777 Ti., 6 ds., Blodgett. 

Hadley, Seth, 1775 L. 

Hadley, Stephen, Drummer, 1776 N. A., 4 mos., 1777 Ben., 2 mos. 

Hale, Henry, Jr., 1777 Sa., 3 ws. Blodgett. 

Hardy, Daniel, 1775 L., 1777 Ti., 5 ds., 1777 Port., 1 mo. 

Hardy, Isaac, 1777 Ti., 5 ds., 1778 R. I., 10 ds. 

Hardy, Jonathan, Corp., 1777 Ti., 14 ds. 

Hardy, Nathaniel, 1775 I.., 1776 Wh. P., 3 mos., 1777 C. A. 3 yrs. 

Hardy, Perry, 1776 Wh. P., 3 mos., 1777 Port., 2 mos. 

Hardy, Richard, 1775 L. 

Hamblet, Asa, 1780 C. A., 6 mos. 

Haseltine, John, 1775 L., Center. 

Hills, Elijah, 1775 L., 1777 Ti., 8 ds., 1777 Lieut Sa.. 1 mo., Farms. 

Hills, Ezekiel, 1775 L. 

Hills, Jeremiah, 1775 L., Farms. 

Hills, Oliver, 1775 L., 1776 Wh. P., 3 mos. 

Hills, Philip, 1777 Ti., 6 ds. 

Hills, Simeon, 1775 B. H., Cam., 8 mos., 1776 Wh. P., 6 mos. 






SOLDIERS IN THE REVOLUTION AND WAR OF l8l2 267 

Hills, Thomas, 1777 Ti., 6 ds. f Farms. 

Hills, William, 1777 Ti., 6 ds. 

Hills, Samuel, 1775 L„ Farms. 

Hobbs, Joseph, 1782 C. A., 3 yrs. Served 4 mos. 

Hood, Aaron, 1781 C. A. For the war. 

Johnson, Joseph, 1777 Ti., 6 ds., 1777 Ben., 2 mos., 1778 R. I. 23 ds., 
Jones, Ephraim, 1777 C. A.,: 3 yrs. 

Kelley, Joseph, Lieut., 1775 L. 
Kinney, Samuel, 1777 C. A., 3 yrs. 

Kinney, Amos, 1776 N. A., 4 mos,, 1777 C. A., 3 yrs. He was killed 
in the army previous to June, 1778. 

Lowell, John Messer, 1777 C. A. ,3 yrs. 
Lowell, Stephen, 1775 Bedel's Rangers, 5 mos. 

Marsh, David, 1775 B. H., Cam., 8 mos. 

Marsh, Samuel, Jr., 1777 Ti., 6 ds., 1777 Serg. Sa., 1 mo., 1778 R. I., 
24 ds. 

Marsh, Samuel, 1775 L., Farms. 

Marsh, Jonathan, 1777 Ben., 2 mos. It is a family tradition that he 
was also at the Battle of Bunker Hill, and did other military service dur- 
ing the war. Farms. 

Marshall, Benjamin, 1775 L., B. H., Cam., 6 mos 

Marshall, Beniamin, Jr., 1775 B. H., Cam., 6 mos., 1 77 N. A., 2 mos. 

Marshall, Daniel, 1775 L., 1778 Serg. R. I., 24 ds. 

Marshall, John, 1775 B. H., Cam., 6 mos., Farms. 

Marshall, Joseph, 1778 R. I., 24 ds., 1781 C. A., 3 yrs. 

Marshall, Richard, 1775 L., 1776 N. A., 4 mos. 

Merrill, Abel, 1779 C. A., 1782 C. A., 3 yrs. 

Merrill, Isaac, 1777 N. Y., 3 mos., 1777 Ti., 8 ds. 

Merrill, John, 1775 L., 1777 Serg. Ben., 2 mos. 

Merrill, Roger, 1779 R. I., 6 mos. 

Merrill, William, Serg., 1775 L., B. H., Cam., 8 mos., 1776 Lieut. N. 
A., 4 mos., 1777 Ti. 5 ds. 

Moore, Samuel, 1775 L. 

Osgood, John, 1775 L., B. H., Cam., 8 mos. 

Page, Abraham, 1775 L., Center. 

Pemberton, James, 1775 L., B. H., Cam., 8 mos., 1777 Ben., 2 mos. 
1778 R. L, 23 ds., 1779 C. A., 1 yr., 1781 C. A., 6 mos. 
Peabody, David, 1778 R. I., 24 ds., 1781 C. A., 3 yrs. 
Perry, Ebenezer, 1775 L., 1778 Ens. R. I., 23 ds. 
Perry, Thomas, 1779 C. A. For the war. 
Pierce, Daniel, 1781 C. A., 6 mos. 
Pollard, Amos, 1777 Ti., 6 ds. 



268 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Pollard, Ebenezer, Serg., 1775 L., 1776 N. A., 6 months., Blodgett. 

Pollard, John, Ens., 1775 L. 

Pollard, John, Jr., Corp., 1775 L., 1776 N. A., 4 mos., Blodgett. 

Pollard, Timothy, 1775 B. H., Cam., 6 mos., 1776 N. A., 4 mos. 

Pollard, Thomas, 1777 Ti., 14 ds., 1777 Hen., 2 mos. 

Pollard, Samuel, Serg., 1777 Ti.,5ds., 1777 Sa.,3 ws., 1778 R. I.,23ds. 

Reed, Abijah, 1775 L., Corp. B. H., Cam., 8 mos., 1776 N. A., 5 
mos., 1777 Ti., 14 ds., 1778 R. I., 23 ds. 
Robinson, Amos. 1781 C. A., 3 yrs. 
Robinson, John. 1775 B. H., Cam. 

Sargent, Abel, 1780 C. A., 6 mos., 1781 C. A., 6 mos., 1782 C. A., 3 yrs. 

Searles, Elnathan, 1779 Port., 2 mos, 

Searles, Thomas, 1776 N. A., 4 mos. 

Seavey, Andrew, 1775 L. 

Seavey, John, 1775 B. H., Cam., 6 mos., 1777 C. A., 3 yrs. 

Senter, Thomas, Serg., 1775 B. H., Cam. 

Severance, Caleb, 1775 B. H., Cam., 1777 Ben., 2 mos. 

Severance, Joseph, 1777 C. A., 3 yrs. 

Severance, Joshua, 1775 B. H., Cam., 8 mos., 1778 R. I., 23 ds. 

Smith, Edward, 1777 C. A., 3 yrs. 

Smith, Page, 1775 L., 1777 Ti., 6 ds., Center. 

Smith, Samuel, 1775 L., 177 7Ti., 14 ds., Hen., 2 mos. 

Smith, Timothy, 1781 C. A., 6 mos., Blodgett. 

Spalding, Reuben, 1775 L., Farms. 

Walker, John, 1775 L., Corp. B. H., Cam., 8 mos. 
Wason, Samuel, 1775 L., Blodgett. 

Wason, Thomas, 1775 L., 1776 Wh. P., 3 mos., Blodgett. 
Whittemore, Benjamin, Jr., 1775 L., B. H., 1777 C. A., 3 yrs. 
Winn, Abiather, 1775 L., Blodgett. 
Winn, Nehemiah, 1775 L., B. H., Cam., 8 mos. 

Winn, Joseph, 1777 Ti., 14 ds., 1777 Ben., 2 mos., 1778 R. I., 23 ds. 
Blodgett. 

Wilson, George, 1781 C. A., 3 yrs. 

Wyman, Daniel, 1776 Wh. P., 3 mos., 1777 C. A., 3 yrs. 

Wyman, Ezra, 1781 C. A., 3 yrs. 

The Second War with Great Britain 

For several years previous to the breaking out of hos- 
tilities between the United States and England, in 1811, 
one among the many more offensive and annoying meas- 
ures, claimed and exercised by England, was the right to 






SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION AND WAR OF l8l2 269 

hold up American vessels and seize all sailors, even natural- 
ized citizens, who were supposed to be British subjects. 

In June, 1807, the insolence of this claim was carried 
so far that the British man-of-war, Leopard, stopped the 
United States frigate, Chesapeake, off the entrance of 
Chesapeake Bay, fired into her, killing or wounding twenty- 
one of the crew, and took off four men, three of whom 
were Americans. No reparation was made for this out- 
rage, but other similar acts followed. Under the last part 
of President Jefferson's administration the famous Embar- 
go Act was passed by Congress, signed by the President, 
and became a law, by which American vessels were pro- 
hibited from leaving foreign ports, and foreign vessels from 
taking cargoes from the United States, and all coasting 
vessels were required to give bonds to land their cargoes 
in the United States. 

This law became very unpopular, and in March, 1809, 
the Non-Intercourse Act went into force, another very un- 
popular measure. Party feeling in this country became 
very bitter. 

England and the United States grew more irritated 
with each other, and in 1811 hostilities actually opened on 
sea and land. 

In May the United States frigate President hailed the 
British man-of-war Little Belt, and was answered by a 
shot. The President replied with a shot in turn, and a 
sharp action ensued in which the Little Pelt was badly 
crippled, and lost thirty-one men, killed and wounded. 

Tecumseh, the famous Shawnee chief, had gathered a 
large force of Indian warriors, and at the instigation of the 
British they were attacking the north-western settlements. 
General William Henry Harrison marched against them, 
and on November 7, he defeated them at Tippecanoe. 

The English continued to seize vessels and men. 
More than nine hundred American vessels had been seized 
since 1803, and several thousand American seamen im- 
pressed into British service. 



270 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

The people of the United States had become exasper- 
ated over their losses and their inability to protect them- 
selves. 

Madison became President in March, 1811, and prep- 
arations were begun for hostilities. War was formally de- 
clared against Great Britain, June 18, 1812. The war was 
prosecuted on land and sea until December, 1814, when final 
negotiations for peace took place at Ghent, Belgium, on 
the twenty-fourth day of that month. A treaty of peace 
was then signed by the two governments' commissioners, 
and was promptly ratified. 

During this war New Hampshire furnished a large 
number of soldiers for the United States army, some of 
whom were stationed at Portsmouth, others on Lake Cham- 
plain, in New York, and on the frontier between the Uni- 
ted States and Canada. 

The muster rolls of these men are said to be in Wash- 
ington, but are almost inaccessible. Partial copies of them 
have been procured and published in the New Hampshire 
Adjutant General's Report for 1868. 

These lists are very unsatisfactory and seemingly inac- 
curate, most probably containing but a part of the names 
of the men who served their country from Nottingham 
West, now Hudson, during the war of 1812. 

After very carefully going through all the rolls pub- 
lished in that report, the following are all the men that 
could be located in this town, and it seems doubtful if all 
of these were actual citizens of Nottingham West. 

An order dated at Exeter, September 9, 1814, required: 

"That four entire companies of infantry from each of 
the Second, Third, Fourth and Twenty-fifth Regiments be 
detached immediately, armed and equipped according to 
law, and provided, as far as possible, with blankets and am- 
munition to march to Portsmouth immediately to serve for 
the term of fifteen days from the time of their arrival at 
Portsmouth unless sooner discharged." 



SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION AND WAR OF l8l2 271 

In the company of Captain Josiah Converse of Am- 
herst are given the following names and residences: 
Jonathan Cate, Jr., 2 d Lieut., of West Nottingham. 
* Alexander Caldwell, 3 d Lieut., of West Nottingham. 
William Emerson, Ensign, West Nottingham. 

Samuel Leonard, Sergeant, West Nottingham. 

Livid Lund, West Nottingham. 

Nathaniel Fellows, West Nottingham. 

John Johnson, West Nottingham. 

*Samuel Steele, West Nottingham. 

John Smith, Dunstable. 

Cyrus Wilkins, West Dunstable. 

The above men were all enlisted September 16, 1814, 
for three months. 

In Captain James Trevett's company enlisted sixty 
days from September 27, 1814: 

Henry Earns, Nottingham. 

*Hesekiah Hamblet, Nottingham. 

*Asa Hardy, Nottingham. 

Israel Putnam, Nottingham. 

*OHver Sprague, Nottingham. 

Rufus Seavey, Nottingham. 

*Henry Tarbox, Nottingham. Died November 9. 

Captain Joseph Towle's Company: 
*Samuel Hills, September 10 to September 27, 1814. 

Captain Joseph Bellows' Company: 
James Brown, September 26, for sixty days. 
*John Merrill, Jr., Both of West Nottingham. 
*John Dutton, September 26, for sixty days, was credited 
to Pelham, but was a resident of this town. 

The residences of many of these men were given as 
West Nottingham, but no town by that name has ever ex- 
isted in the state. The town at that date bore the name of 
Nottingham West, and there seems little doubt that West 
Nottingham as printed in the Adjutant General's Report 
is designed for this town. 



272 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

The residences of a few others are given as Notting- 
ham, but several of these at least are known to have been 
citizens of Nottingham West. 

Those names which are marked with an asterisk are 
nearly all known to have been residents of this town, while 
several of the others may have enlisted for Nottingham 
West and still have been residents of other towns. 



CHAPTER XXIII 

Hudson in the Civil War and Other Wars 

The history of New Hampshire in this war, together 
with the numerous and various causes and events transpir- 
ing for many years preceding the crisis of 1861, and lead- 
ing steadily on and up to a clash at arms between the two 
sections of the nation — North and South — has been many 
times, more or less impartially, written and published, and 
may be found in almost any library in the state. 

Suffice it to say here, that during this extended and 
bloody conflict of four years' continuance to save the na- 
tion and perpetuate the Union of the States as founded 
and transmitted by our Revolutionary ancestors, and for 
which they fought and bled through the eight long and 
gloomy years of that war, New Hampshire did her full 
share. Each call upon the state for enlistments or rein- 
forcements was promptly answered, and the New Hamp- 
shire regiments in the war compared favorably and honor- 
ably with those of any other state for intrepidity, good con- 
duct and patriotic devotion to duty. 

They bravely fought upon nearly all the principal bat- 
tlefields of the war, and the blood of the old Granite State 
soldiers— as in the Revolution — mingled freely with that 
of the brave troops from other states, and their graves, 
thousands of which are carefully marked and numbered, 
dot the many soldiers' cemeteries around those old battle 
grounds, and at Arlington, while other thousands sleep in 
unknown graves. 

The people of Hudson during this cruel strife per- 
formed their whole duty from the very first, promptly fur- 
nishing, on the numerous calls for troops, more than the 
quota allotted to them by the state, it appearing at the 
273 



274 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

close of the war that the number of men furnished exceed- 
ed the number called for. 

At a special town meeting, October 14, 1861, the town 
chose Hiram Marsh, Gilman Andrews and Stephen D. 
Greeley, a committee to relieve the families of soldiers, and 
gave this committee instructions to pay not exceeding one 
dollar a week each for the wives and dependent children or 
parents of soldiers serving in the army from this town, or 
of such as shall enlist and be mustered into the service of 
the United States, provided said sum in the aggregate shall 
not exceed twelve dollars per month for any such soldier. 

The town voted to raise five hundred dollars for said 
purpose. 

This committee, during the war, paid to the families 
of soldiers the sum of seven thousand, one hundred and six 
dollars and forty-three cents. 

August 12, 1862, the town voted to pay a bounty of 
two hundred dollars to each person who enlisted as a vol- 
unteer for three years or during the war, and on Septem- 
ber 11, following, a bounty of one hundred dollars each was 
voted to volunteers who would enlist for nine months, the 
bounty in each case to be paid when such volunteer should 
be mustered into the United States' service. 

At a special town meeting, September 23, 1863, it was 
voted to extend aid to the families of drafted men or their 
substitutes, while serving as soldiers in the army. 

Also "voted to pay a bounty of two hundred dollars 
each to drafted men or their substitutes, ten days after 
being mustered into the service of the United States." 

December 5, 1863, the town "voted to assume the 
Government and State bounties, and pay three hundred 
dollars, in addition to these bounties, to each volunteer who 
shall enlist to fill the quota allotted to this town under the 
late call of the President of the United States." 

March 8, 1864. "Voted to pay the drafted men who 
were drafted September 2, 1863, the sum of one hundred 
dollars each in addition to the two hundred already paid 



HUDSON IN THE CIVIL WAR AND OTHER WARS 275 

them." "Voted to pay a bounty of two hundred dollars to 
men who enlisted in 1861, and who still remain in the ser- 
vice, they having been allowed no town bounty." 

June 18, 1864. The town voted to pay all those re- 
cently drafted a bounty of three hundred dollars or the 
same amount to such drafted men who had furnished sub- 
stitutes, and to all who should enlist to fill any quota of the 
town, three hundred dollars. 

August 29, 1864. The town by vote offered bounties 
of eight hundred dollars each to one-year men, nine hun- 
dred each to two-year men and one thousand each to three- 
year men, including the state and government bounties, to 
fill the quota of the town. 

At the beginning of the war, April 24, 1861, at a meet- 
ing of the citizens held at the town house the amount of 
two hundred and twenty-three dollars was subscribed and 
paid for the purpose of furnishing volunteers, who had en- 
listed, with necessary outfits, in addition to such as were 
furnished by the government. 

On the 29th of October of the same year, at another 
meeting of the citizens, the Hudson Soldiers' Aid Society 
was organized, and continued in action and successful oper- 
ation till the close of the war. 

The president of this society was Addison Heald; its 
secretary, Mrs. Nancy B. Merrill; and its treasurer, Mrs. 
Addison Heald; with an executive committee composed of 
ten ladies, one from each school district — Mrs. Thomas 
Gowing, Mrs. Luther Pollard, Mrs. Samuel Morrison, Miss 
Mary Buttrick, Mrs. Daniel M. Greeley, Mrs. Oliver Hill, 
Mrs. David Seavey, Mrs. Robert A. Andrews, Mrs. Jack- 
son E. Greeley and Mrs. James M. Greeley. 

This society contributed, collected, bought material 
and manufactured and forwarded, in quantities, to the sol- 
diers at the front articles of necessity and comfort, such 
as comfortable clothing, bedding, lint, bandages, dried 
fruits, comforts for the sick and wounded in the hospitals, 
and necessaries for the use and convenience of the men in 
field and camp. 



276 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

These contributions furnished by their friends at home 
were greatly appreciated by the soldiers, and did much to 
relieve their sufferings and add to their scanty comforts. 

The total cash value of all the many consignments for- 
warded to the front through the untiring zeal of these no- 
ble women and their associates and helpers, cannot be as- 
certained, but in the aggregate it was very large, and their 
worth to the soldiers could not be estimated in dollars and 
cents. 

The Beginning of Hostilities 

Early on the morning of April 12, 1861, the Confed- 
erate forces, numbering several thousand men, under the 
command of General Beauregard, opened fire with seven 
batteries upon Fort Sumter, situated in Charleston harbor, 
S. C, which was garrisoned with about seventy United 
States soldiers, commanded by Major Robert Anderson. 

Late in the afternoon of the 13th Major Anderson ca- 
pitulated, and Fort Sumter was evacuated. This immedi- 
ately precipitated the crisis that had long threatened the 
nation, and made war between the two sections inevitable. 

Two days later, on April 15, President Lincoln issued 
a proclamation calling for seventy-five thousand volunteers 
for three months service. To New Hampshire was as- 
signed the furnishing of one regiment. 

Hudson Soldiers in the War of the Rebellion 

The names of Hudson soldiers, with the dates of their 
enlistment or mustering, time of service, and the regiments 
and companies in which they served, are presented in the 
following lists: 

First New Hampshire Regiment 

This regiment enlisted for three months, and was 
under the command of Colonel Mason VV. Tappan of Brad- 
ford, with Aaron F. Stevens of Nashua as Major. It was 



HUDSON IN THE CIVIL WAR AND OTHER WARS 2Ti 

mustered in at Concord on the 4th of May, started for 
Washington on the 25th, and on the expiration of its term 
of enlistment returned, and was mustered out at Concord, 
August 9, 1861. 

This regiment for the most of its term of service was 
on duty along the Potomac river between Washington and 
Harper's Ferry. It was engaged in no battle with the en- 
emy except some minor skirmishes. 

The Hudson men in the First regiment were: 

Abel F. Gould. Age 20; enlisted in Company K, May 
7, 1861 ; mustered out August 9, 1861 ; re-enlisted in Eighth 
New Hampshire Regiment. 

Eben Tuttle. Age 28; enlisted in Company K, May 
7, 1861; mustered out August 9, 1861. 

William L. Walker. Age 21; enlisted in Company E, 
May 2, 1861; mustered out August 9, 1861; re-enlisted in 
Seventh New Hampshire Regiment. 

Third New Hampshire Regiment 

This regiment, enlisted for three years, August, 1861. 
Commanded by Colonel Enoch Q. Fellows, of Sandwich, 
who resigned June 26, 1862, and was succeeded by Colonel 
John H. Jackson of Portsmouth, who was honorably dis- 
charged February 24, 1864, to be succeeded by Colonel 
John Bedel of Bath. This regiment was enlisted under 
the Act of Congress of July 22, 1861, authorizing the 
enlistment of five hundred thousand volunteers for 
three years, and was mustered into the service of the 
United States, August 26, 1861. It left Concord for 
Long Island September 3, thence on the 14th to Washing- 
ton, and from Washington on the following 19th of Octo- 
ber it was ordered to the seat of war in South Carolina. It 
was on duty in that state and in Florida till the spring of 
1864. Near the last of April, 1864, the regiment was or- 
dered to Virginia. 

This regiment was in many battles, some of the most 
important of which were: 



278 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

James Island, S. C, June 8, 1862; Morris Island, S. 
C, July 10, 1863; Fort Wagner, S. C, July 18, 1863; 
Dairy's Bluff, Va., May 13-16, 1864; Petersburg, Va., 
June 9, 1864; Fort Fisher, N. C, January 15, 1865. 

The Hudson men in the regiment were: 

George D. Carr. Age 30; Company E; wounded June 
16, 1862, at James Island, S. C; died in hands of enemy at 
Charleston, S. C, June 28, 1864. 

Peter Hennessey. Age 20; Company E; re-enlisted 
February 13, 1864; promoted to Corporal July 18, 1864. 

William F. Millett. Age 24; Company E; Corporal; 
wounded May 13, 1864; mustered out August 23, 1864. 

George W. Miller. Age 21; Company F; wounded 
severely (left arm amputated) at James Island, June 16, 
1862; discharged for disability September 13, 1862. 

Nathan Caldwell. Age 18; Company F; re-enlisted 
February 22, 1864. 

Charles A. Wyman. Age 19; Company F; mustered 
out August 23, 1864. 

William F. Hardy. Age 22; Company F; mustered 
out August 23, 1864. 

Fourth New Hampshire Regiment 

This regiment was enlisted and organized at Manches- 
ter, and was mustered in, September, 1861, and left for 
Washington, D. C, September 27, under command of Col- 
onel Thomas J. Whipple of Laconia. On the 9th of Octo- 
ber it left Washington for Annapolis, Md., where it was 
encamped until October 19, on which date it left Annapolis 
for Fortress Monroe, where it arrived by the steamer Bal- 
tic on the 21st. It left Fortress Monroe October 29, and 
arrived at Port Royal, S. C, November 7, 1861. Here it dis- 
embarked and went into camp. It was on duty in South 
Carolina and Florida till April, 1864, when it was ordered 
to Virginia, and remained in the service in that state and 
in North Carolina till the close of the war. 



HUDSON IN THE CIVIL WAR AND OTHER WARS 279 

Some of the more important battles in which it fought 
were the assault on Fort Wagner, July, 1863, the battle of 
Bermuda Hundred, Va., May, 1864, and that at Fort Fish- 
er, N. C, January, 1865. 

The Hudson men in this regiment, enlisted for three 
years, in Company B, were: 

Caleb Marshall, discharged for disability, at Beaufort, 
S. C, March 12, 1863. 

Charles A. Robinson, discharged for disability, at Beau- 
fort, S. C, October 20, 1862. 

Hugh Watts, Corporal, discharged for disability, March 
12, 1863. 

In Company K: 

Samuel F. Coffin, musician, discharged for disability, 
February 11, 1863. 

Israel W. Young, discharged for disability at De Camp 
Hospital, N. Y., June 4, 1864. 

Sharp-shooters 

The United States Sharp-shooters, armed principa ly 
with Sharp's improved breech-loading rifles, with set trig- 
gers, were used commonly by detachments to any position 
of the army where skilled skirmishing, sharp-shooting or 
strong picket duty was to be done. As skirmishers they 
had no equals, and their pre-eminence was due to their su- 
perior weapons, skill and drill. 

Wherever the picket fire of the enemy became too warm, a detach- 
ment of Sharp-shooters was sent and rarely failed to stop it. 

Wherever a hostile battery could be reached by a rifle ball, their 
heavy guns and sure aim rendered continuous use impossible. 

Wherever a reconnoissance was to be made, the "green coats" was 
called upon to clear the way; and wherever an important picket line to be 
established or re-established, the facility which the Sharp-shooters pos- 
sessed in loading and firing their breech-loading rifles rendered them the 
willing recipients of orders to perform the difficult task. 

Adjutant General's Report, N. H. 1865, Vol. 2. 



280 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Three companies of sharp-shooters were raised in this 
state — Company E of the First Regiment, and Companies 
F and G of the Second Regiment, United States Sharp- 
shooters. 

Company G, numbering ninety-five men and their offi- 
cers, enlisted for three years, was mustered December 10, 
1861, and immediately left for Washington. The Sharp- 
shooters were connected with the Army of the Potomac, 
and fought in many battles. Some of these battles, in 
which Companies F and G participated were: 

Falmouth, May 11, 1862; Rappahannock Station, Au- 
gust 23, 1862; Gainsville, August 29, 1862; Sulphur Spring, 
August 25, 1862; Second Bull Run, August 30, 1862; 
South Mountain, September 14, 1862; Antietam, Septem- 
ber 17, 1862; Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862; Chan- 
cellorsville, May 3, 1863; Gettysburg, July 2 and 3, 1863; 
Wilderness, May 5, 6 and 7, 1864; Spottsylvania, May 12, 
1864; Cold Harbor, June 3, 4 and 5, 1864; Petersburg, 
June 16, 17 and 18, 1864; Deep Bottom, July 27, 1864; 
Deep Bottom, August 15 and 16, 1864. 

Hudson Men in Company G, Sharp-shooters 

Harvard P. Smith, Sergeant. Promoted to Second 
Lieutenant, October 10, 1862; promoted to Captain, No- 
vember 1, 1862; wounded May 6, 1864; mustered out De- 
cember 24, 1864. 

Norris Smith. Promoted to Sergeant; re-enlisted De- 
cember 21, 1863; wounded May 31, 1864; promoted to First 
Lieutenant, January 16, 1865; honorably discharged. 

Dura P. Dow. Promoted to Corporal, January 14, 
1863; died of disease February 26, 1863. 

Charles H. Hopkins. Wounded severely in the arm 
at Antietam, September 17, 1862; discharged on account 
of wounds January 7, 1863. 

Dustin B. Smith. Re-enlisted February 17, 1864; 
transferred to Fifth New Hampshire Volunteers January 
30, 1865; mustered out June 28, 1865. 



HUDSON IN THE CIVIL WAR AND OTHER WARS 281 

Allen Steele. Died of disease at Washington, D. C, 
January 23, 1862. 

Job F. Thomas. Wounded slightly at Antietam, Sep- 
tember 17, 1862; discharged on account of wounds Decem- 
ber 14, 1863. 

William Henry Thomas. Discharged for disability 
February 13, 1863. 

Henry Taylor. Died at Washington March 6, 1862. 

Joseph Gardner Winn. Killed at Antietam, Md., Sep- 
tember 17, 1862. 

Joseph F. Floyd. Enlisted as a recruit February 12, 
1864; killed at the Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864. 

Charles E. Osgood. Enlisted as a recruit February 
25, 1864; wounded May 16, 1864; transferred to Veteran 
Reserve Corps January 30, 1865; honorably discharged. 

Seventh New Hampshire Regiment 

This regiment was enlisted at Manchester for three 
years, mustered into the United States service December 
14, 1861, and left for Florida, by the way of New York 
under command of Col. H. F. Putnam of Cornish, January 
14, 1862. 

Colonel Putnam was killed July 18, 1863, and was suc- 
ceeded in the command by Colonel Joseph C. Abbott of 
Manchester. 

The regiment was in the service in Florida and South 
Carolina till April, 1864, when it was ordered to Virginia. 

Some of the more important battles in which this reg- 
iment was engaged were: The assault on Fort Wagner, 
July 18, 1863, and Oulstee, Florida, February 20, 1864. It 
was also engaged in many of the battles near Richmond, 
Va. 

In Company B of this regiment were the following 
Hudson men : 

Leander H. Cummings. Age 18; promoted to Cor- 
poral, May 6, 1862; wounded and captured July 18, 1863, at 



282 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Fort Wagner, S. C; died of wounds July 28, 1863, at 
Charleston, S. C. 

Albert Campbell. Age 18; discharged January 7, 
1862, by civil authority. 

William J. Fifield. Age 24; deserted August 6, 1862, 
at Nashua. 

Harrison Fifield. Age 44; discharged for disability 
February 18, 1862, at New York City. 

William L. Walker. Age 22; re-enlisted from First 
New Hampshire Regiment October 1, 1861; promoted to 
Sergeant, August 1, 1864; mustered out December 27, 1864. 

Otis A. Merrill. Company H; age 18; enlisted Au- 
gust 15, 1862; promoted to Sergeant, January 26, 1865; 
discharged June 26, 1865, at Goldsborough, N. C. Award- 
ed "Gilmore Medal" by Major General Q. A. Gilmore for 
gallant and meritorious conduct during operations before 
Charleston, S. C. 

Andrew J. Berry. Age 21; enlisted. August 21, 1862; 
killed July 18, 1863, at Fort Wagner, S. C. 

Eighth New Hampshire Regiment 

This regiment, also, was enlisted at Manchester for 
three years, commanded by Hawkes Fearing, and mus- 
tered in, December 23, 1861. 

It left for Ship Island, Miss., by way of Boston, Janu- 
ary 25, 1862, and served in Louisiana and other states bor- 
dering on the Mississippi river, till the expiration of its 
term of service. 

Like some others of the New Hampshire regiments it 
saw much hard service, and was engaged in the following 
battles and actions: 

Georgia Landing, La., October 27, 1862; Fort Bislancl, 
La., April 12 and 15, 1863; Siege of Port Hudson, La., 
May 25 to July 8, 1863; Natchitoches, La., March 31, 1864; 
Piney Woods, La., April 2, 1864; Wilson's Farm, La., 
April 7, 1864; Sabine Cross Roads, La., April 8, 1864; 



HUDSON IN THE CIVIL WAR AND OTHER WARS 283 

Cane River, La., April 23, 1864; Monett's Bluff, La., April 
24, 1864; Bayou Rapid, La., April 26, 1864; Snaggy Point, 
La., May 1, 1864; Alexandria (Wilson's Landing,) May 14, 
1864; Marksville, May 16, 1864; Bayou De Glaize or Mo- 
reauville, May 17, 1864: Yellow Bayou, May 18, 1864. 

The following Hudson men were in this regiment: 

Levi E. Cross. Company A; age 30; discharged for 
disability at Carrollton, La., October 27, 1862. 

Robert Douglass Caldwell. Company A; age 40; 
mustered out January 18, 1865. 

Abel F. Gould. Company A; age 21; re-enlisted 
from First New Hampshire Regiment, September 12, 1861; 
drowned in Red River, Alexandria, La., May 10, 1862. 

James Hales. Company D; age 25; deserted No- 
vember 20, 1864, Natchez, Miss. 

Charles A. Russell. Company E; age 18; killed Oc- 
tober 27, 1862, Labadieville, La. 

John Smith. Company E; age 41; mustered out Oc- 
tober, 1864. 

Amos M. Young. Company C; age 18; transferred 
to Company D, December, 1861; wounded June 14, 1863, 
at Port Hudson, La.; re-enlisted January 4, 1864, cred. 
Nashua; transferred to Company A, Veteran Battalion, 
8th N. H Volunteers, January 1, 1865; mustered out Oc- 
tober 28, 1865. 

John P. Young. Company D; age 19; transferred to 
Veteran Reserve Corps May 1, 1864. 

Ninth New Hampshire Regiment 

This regiment was organized at Concord, enlisted for 
three years, and left for the seat of war, August 25, 1862, 
under command of Colonel Enoch Q. Fellows of Sandwich. 

The regiment reached Washington on the evening of 
the 27th, and the next morning marched across the Long 
Bridge into Virginia, where it was assigned to the com- 
mand of General Whipple at Camp Chase. 



284 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

The following are some of the more important battles 
in which the regiment was engaged: 

South Mountain, Md., September 14, 1862; Antietam, 
Md , September 17, 1862; Fredericksburg, Va., December 
13, 1862; Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864; Spottsylvania, 
Va., May 12, 1864; Cold Harbor, Va., June 7, 1864; Pe- 
tersburg, Va., June 17 to July 27, 1864; Mine Explosion, 
Petersburg, Va., July 30, 1864. 

Three Hudson men were in this regiment: 

Jesse S. Bean. Company C; Corporal; age 26; wound- 
ed at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862; transferred 
to Company K, 5th Invalid Corps, January 15, 1864; dis- 
charged July 5, 1865, at Indianapolis, Ind. 

Thomas P. Conrey. Company C; age 22; captured 
May 12, 1862, at Spottsylvania, Va.; died August 28, 1862, 
Andersonville, Ga. 

Elias L. Foote. Company F; age 18; died of disease 
October 3, 1862, at Antietam, Md. 

Tenth New Hampshire Regiment 

This regiment, enlisted for three years, and composed 
mostly of men of Irish birth or descent, was organized at 
Manchester, mustered in, September 5, 1862, and left for 
the front on the 22d, under command of Colonel Michael 
T. Donahoe of Manchester. 

The Tenth took part in the battle of Fredericksburg 
in December, 1862. During 1863 the regiment was serv- 
ing in the neighborhood of Norfolk. In 1864 it joined the 
Army of the Potomac, and participated in the battle of 
Cold Harbor. The most of its service was with the Army 
of the James. The Hudson men in this regiment were: 

Charles H. Kershaw. Corporal, Company B; desert- 
ed October 29, 1862. 

William H. Durant. Company B; discharged for dis- 
ability May 20, 1863; enlisted in the Invalid Corps, Sep- 
tember 2, 1864; mustered out November 15, 1865. 



HUDSON IN THE CIVIL WAR AND OTHER WARS 285 

John D. Farnum. Company B; transferred to Veter- 
an Reserve Corps, August 15, 1863. 

Joseph French. Company B; mustered out June 21, 
1865. 

Francis Tetro. Company B; mustered out June 21, 
1865. 

Robert French. Company C; mustered out June 20, 
1865. 

Twelfth New Hampshire Regiment 

On the tenth day of August, 1862, the Governor of 
New Hampshire gave permission and issued recruiting pa- 
pers to raise and officer a regiment in Belknap and Carroll 
Counties, provided it could be done in ten days. 

On the sixteenth day of August the Adjutant General 
of the State was notified that ten full companies had been 
organized and were ready to be mustered into the United 
States service, which was done respectively as follows: 

Company A, August 30; Company B, August 30; 
Company C, September 5; Company D, September 5; 
Company E, September 5; Company F, September 5; 
(Company F raised in Merrimack County.) Company G, 
September 9; Company H, September 9; Company I, Sep- 
tember 9; Company K, September 10. 

Joseph H. Potter, an officer of the regular army, with 
the rank of Captain, was appointed Colonel. 

John F. Marsh, a native of Hudson, who had had ex- 
perience under Colonel Franklin Pierce in the Mexican war 
in 1847, was Lieutenant Colonel, and George D. Savage, 
Major. 

The twelfth regiment was encamped for drill at Con- 
cord, N. H. It was mustered as a regiment September 26, 
1862, and left for Washington, D. C, the next day, arriving 
at Camp Chase September 30, where it was joined to Col- 
onel Wright's Division of General Casey's command of the 
Reserve Army Corps Defences of Washington. 



286 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

This regiment participated in many hard fought bat- 
tles. 

We find the following record in relation to John F. 
Marsh: 

"Marsh, John F. F. & S; 

"Born in Hudson; age 34; Res. Hudson, Appointment 
Lt. Colonel, Sept. 17, 1862; Mustered in Sept. 17, 1862; 
Wd. May 3, 1863, Chancellorville, Va. Disc. Feb. 5, 1864, 
to date Jan. 26, 1864, to accept appt. in V. R. C. 

"Enlisted June 10, 1861, as private Co. B. 6th Wiscon- 
sin Inf. (While in Hastings Minn.) Not mustered as pri- 
vate, Appt. Lieut. June 19, 1861. Appt. Capt. Co. D. Oct. 
30, 1861; to date Oct. 25, 1861; Wd. Aug. 28, 1862, Gaines- 
ville; Disc. September 13, 1862; to acct. appt. as Lt. Col. 
12 N. H. Vol.; Brevt. Col. U. S. V. to date Mar. 13, 1865; 
for gallant and meritorious services in the battle of Chan- 
cellorsville, Va. 

"Veteran Reserve Corps 

"Marsh, John F. F. and S. 24 Inf; b Hudson, age 
35, res. Hudson; App. Lt. Col. Jan. 22, 1864; accepted 
Jan. 27. 1864; resigned Aug. 17, 1865." 

Thirteenth New Hampshire Regiment 

The thirteenth regiment, enlisted for three years, left 
Concord October 6, 1862, under command of Colonel Aaron 
Fletcher Stevens of Nashua. George Bowers of Nashua 
was Lieutenant-Colonel. The regiment reached Washing- 
ton on the evening of the eighth, and on the ninth crossed 
the Long bridge to Camp Chase on the Virginia side of the 
Potomac. It served all its time in Virginia, excepting a 
few days' march through Maryland. 

This regiment had a very honorable record. The Ad- 
jutant General's Report for 1865, Vol. 2, page 339, says 
of it: 

It is but justice to the regiment to say that no officer of the command 
has ever been cashiered or dismissed the service ; that one half or more 



HUDSON IN THE CIVIL WAR AND OTHER WARS 287 

of its officers are kept on detached service in various capacities in the 
army, while the general intelligence and honesty of its men, have won for 
the regiment, a character for trustworthiness, efficiency and integrity in 
the discharge of their duties, second to none in the service. It has cap- 
tured five pieces of artillery in one charge, and with its division taken six- 
teen pieces more, has captured three battle flags; and taken more prison- 
ers from the enemy than the number of its own ranks; and has never 
been driven from the field, or from its position by the enemy. 

Some of the more important battles in which it fought 
are the following: 

Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862; Siege of Suffolk, 
April and May, 1863; Walthall Road, May 7, 1864; Swift 
Creek, May 9 and 10, 1864; Kingsland Creek, May 12 and 
13, 1864; Drury's Bluff, May 14 and 16, 1864; Cold Har- 
bor, June 1 and 3, 1864; Battery 5, Petersburg, June 15, 
1864; Battery Harrison, September 29 and 30, 1864. 

In Company I of this regiment eighteen Hudson men 
enlisted September 20, whose names are given below: 

James M. Greeley, Sergeant. Age 41; discharged for 
disability at Washington, D. C, February 25,1863; en- 
listed in Heavy Artillery, September 6, 1864. 

Nathan M. Blodgett, Corporal. Age 24; discharged 
by order at Portsmouth, Va., November 30, 1863. 

Reuben Cummings, musician. Age 32; mustered out 
June 21, 1865. 

Alden M. Jones, musician. Age 42; mustered out 
June 21, 1865. 

George W. Batchelder. Age 20; captured October 27, 
1864; died of disease at Salisbury, N. C, February 12, 1865. 

Henry Butler. Age 35; wounded December 13, 1862; 
promoted to Corporal April 1, 1863; mustered out June 
21, 1865. 

Bradford Campbell. Age 18; mustered out June 21, 
1865. 

Henry T. Colburn. Age 26; discharged for disability 
at Concord, N. H., July 20, 1863. 

Gilman F. Chase. Age 27; transferred to Company 
C, September 25, 1862; transferred to brigade band Janu- 
ary 25, 1863; mustered out June 21, 1865. 



288 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Rufus M. Fletcher Age 25; mustered out June 21, 
1865. 

Lorenzo Fuller. Agel8; mustered out June 17, 1865. 

Frederick F. Hickox. Age 38; mustered out May 12, 
1865. 

Napoleon E. Jones. Age 18; mustered out June 21, 
1865. 

William B. Lewis. Age 25; promoted to Corporal 
April 1, 1863; wounded slightly May 16, 1864; promoted 
to Sergeant June 7, 1864; mustered out June 21, 1865. 

Jacob Marshall. Age 19; died of disease at Ports- 
mouth, Va., August 21, 1863. 

Otis R. Marsh. Age 30; wounded severely October 
27, 1864; discharged by order May 28, 1865. 

Andrew J. Smith. Age 32; killed at Petersburg, Va., 
June 26, 1864. 

James G. Smith. Age 20; died of disease at Ports- 
mouth, Va., October 3, 1863. 

First Regiment New Hampshire Heavy Artillery 

Company F of this regiment was recruited in Nashua 
by its Captain, Daniel J. Flanders, mustered in, September 
6, 1864, and soon after left the state for Washington, where, 
after its arrival, it was organized with eleven other Com- 
panies, into a regiment, under command of Colonel Charles 
H. Long of Claremont. 

During the fall and winter this regiment was engaged 
in ganison duty not far from Washington, and was mus- 
tered out June 15, 1865. 

In Company F of this regiment were the following 
sixteen residents of Hudson: 

Samuel M. Walker, Corporal. 

James McCoy, Corporal; reduced to ranks June 1, 1865. 

George W. Berry; appointed musician, December 16, 
1864. 

Lucius T. Buker, James M. Greeley, 

James S. Blodgett, Horace J. Hamblet, 



HUDSON IN THE CIVIL WAR AND OTHER WARS 289 

Albert A. Campbell, James N. Corliss, 

Austin T. Merrill, George S. McCoy, 

John W. Fletcher, Frederick F. Smith, 

Frank J. Fuller, Willard O. Winn, 

Samuel A. Greeley. 

The following is a list of other Hudson men who en- 
listed into the United States' service during the war: 

John H. Phillips. Enlisted for three years in Troop 
M, First New England Cavalry; mustered in, September 
15, 1862; transferred to Invalid Corps, September, 1863; 
discharged for disability January 27, 1864. 

Wanen Smith. Enlisted in Troop A, First Regiment 
New Hampshire Cavalry; mustered in, March 24, 1864; 
promoted to Corporal May 1, 1864; wounded severely Au- 
gust 25, 1864, and died of wounds soon after. 

Jonathan Burbank. Enlisted for nine months in Com- 
pany E, Fifteenth New Hampshire Regiment; mustered 
in, October 9, 1862; mustered out at Memphis, Tenn., Au- 
gust 13, 1863; sick at Memphis and died soon after. 

The following Hudson men enlisted in Company F, 
Eighteenth New Hampshire Regiment for one year; mus- 
tered in, September 28, 1864. 

Levi E. Cross, Corporal. Mustered out June 10, 1865. 

Cyrus Cross. Mustered out June 10, 1865. 

These men from Hudson enlisted into the United 
States' Navy: 

James H. Shaw. Enlisted in the navy April 19, 1861, 
and was honorably discharged April 19, 1865. 

Thomas M. Senter. Enlisted for two years June, 
1862; re-enlisted for two years February 27, 1865. 

George E. Senter. Enlisted as an Acting Master's 
Mate June, 1862; resigned June, 1863. 

Joseph W. Wallace, Michael Harney and Samuel L. 
Beverly, enlisted in the navy, but the dates of their enlist- 
ment are unknown. 

Names of Hudson men who enlisted in Massachusetts 
regiments: 



290 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Almon S. Senter. Enlisted in Sixth Massachusetts 
Regiment for nine months; afterwards in Massachusetts 
Heavy Artillery, and served through the war. 

Aaron B. Frost. Twelfth Massachusetts Regiment. 
Jamison Greeley. Company M, Fourteenth Massa- 
chusetts Regiment. 

Samuel M. Walker. Company C, Sixteenth Massa- 
chusetts Regiment. 

William Livingston. Thirty-sixth Massachusetts Reg- 
iment. 

Henry H. Ford. Third Massachusetts Regiment, 
Heavy Artillery, November 7, 1863; discharged 1865. 

Names of men enlisted in unknown Massachusetts 
regiments: 

George McQueston, Alexis Baker, 

Henry H. Dane, Patrick Bradley, 

James O. Dane. 
Myron W. Harris and Henry Harris, two brothers, 
enlisted in an unknown Maine regiment. 

Names of Hudson men drafted in 1863, who furnished 
substitutes: 

Augustus F. Blodgett, Obadiah F. Smith, 
Nehemiah H. Gage, Ira Templeton, 

E. Wesley Hill, Willard O. Winn, 

John B. Marshall. 
In 1864: 

Charles H. Grant, Arus H. McCoy, 

Edwin S. Gowing, Lucius F. Robinson, 

Benjamin H. Kidder, John C. Smith. 
List of Hudson men not drafted, who furnished sub- 
stitutes: 

David Clement, Jr., Alphonso Robinson, 

Daniel M. Greeley, David O. Smith, 

Franklin A. Hill, Charles Steele, 

Emery Parker, Kimball Webster, 

Augustus F. Morrison, Willard H. Webster, 
Alfred C. Ripley. 






HUDSON IN THE CIVIL WAR AND OTHER WARS 291 

The names of these twenty-four substitutes, together 
with thirteen other recruits furnished by the town, all be- 
ing non-residents, and principally aliens, are omitted. 

In making up the foregoing lists of soldiers, it has 
been the purpose of the compiler to give the names of 
those, and those only, who were residents of this town, a 
few of which are credited to other towns. 

It has also been our endeavor to make the lists perfect 
and complete, so as to include the names of all the resi- 
dents of Hudson who served in the army or navy of the 
United States in any capacity during the war; yet it is pos- 
sible that omissions may have occurred in instances of men 
enlisting in other states or in the navy; but if there are 
any such, it is believed that they are very few in number. 

At the close of the war this town was credited at the 
Adjutant General's office with twelve more men than its 
full quota under all the calls for soldiers, and it was claimed 
that twenty-one more men than its quota had been fur- 
nished, after allowing all due credits to other towns. 

The entire number of enlistments credited to Hudson 
by the Adjutant General was one hundred and twenty-five. 

The amount of bounties paid by the town, a portion of 
which was afterwards reimbursed by the State and United 
States, was thirty-six thousand seven hundred and twenty- 
five dollars. ($3*6,725.) 

The whole number of different men enlisted, as shown 

by the foregoing lists was 106 

Of this number one was discharged by civil authority 1 

Number of men in the service 105 

Re-enlisted 9 

Wounded 13 

Taken prisoners 4 

Transferred to Veteran Invalid Corps . . 6 

Killed 4 

Died of wounds 3 

Died of disease 9 



292 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Drowned 1 

Discharged for disability 15 

Officers 2 

Deserted 3 

Honorably discharged at end of service .... 68 



105 



Mexican War 



In the war between the United States and Mexico, in 
1847, Hudson furnished at least one soldier. He was John 
F. Marsh, born here February 1, 1828, who served several 
months in the Ninth Regiment of the United States Army, 
otherwise known as the New England Regiment, command- 
ed by Col. Franklin Pierce under Gen. Winfield Scott. 

Spanish-American War 

Hudson also furnished one soldier for this war, in 1898, 
James G. Wentworth, who served through the war and re- 
ceived an honorable discharge. 



CHAPTER XXIV 

Tax Lists and Homesteads, 1793 

Invoice of 1793 

In 1793, the selectmen made and recorded a much 
more elaborate and detailed invoice than had been cus- 
tomary. This showed the number of polls, horses, oxen, 
cows, three-year olds, two-year olds, yearlings, acres of or- 
chard, tillage and mowing, pasture and wild land and build- 
ings, taxable to each resident of the town. 

These items were grouped into the North and the 
South ends — one hundred and eleven tax-payers in the 
South end, and one hundred and twenty-two in the north 
end, or two hundred and thirty-three in all, including fifteen 
or more non-residents. The summary was as follows: 

Polls, 204; horses, 66; oxen, 192; cows, 315; three- 
year olds, 142; two-year olds, 134; yearlings, 149. Acres 
of orchard, 72; acres of tillage and mowing, 963; acres of 
pasture, 544; acres of wild land and buildings, 4,739; total, 
6,318. 

The returns on the area of lands were not very exact, 
as the whole number of acres accounted for by the select- 
men was but a little more than one-third of the actual num- 
ber of acres in the town at that date, as well as at present. 

The number of acres returned was six thousand, three 
hundred and eighteen, when as a fact there were more than 
seventeen thousand acres of land in Nottingham West in 
1793. 

The selectmen of that year were Asa Davis, Samuel 
Marsh and Phineas Underwood. 
293 



294 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Tax List, 1793 



South End Invoice: 

Samuel Wason, 
Asa Davis, 
James Caldwell, 
Lt. Thomas Wason, 
David Cummings, 
Elijah Fletcher, 
Robert Stewart, 
Joseph Gould, 
Andrew Seavey, 
Theodore Merrill, 
Moses Johnson, Jr. 7 
Dea. Isaac Merrill 
Abel Merrill, 
Frenton Hauck, 
Farwell Parker, 
John Butler, Jr., 
Jonas Hardy, 
Benjamin Chase, 
Joseph Winn, 
Capt. William Burns, 
Stephen Chase, 
John Chase, 
Benjamin Marshall, 
John Ditson, 
Joseph B. Wilson, 
Ebenezer Burbank, 
John Caldwell, 
Samuel S. Haywood, 
Mansfield Huey, 
Jonathan Tenney, 
Elnathan Searles, 
Lt. Alexander Caldwell, 
Eliphalet Hadley, 






Moses Wason, 
Joseph Caldwell, 
James Wason, 
Capt. David Cummings, 
Thomas Hamblet, 
Benjamin Merrill, 
Col. James Ford, 
Jonathan Gould, 
John Merrill, 
Moses Johnson, 
Robinson Brown, 
George Burns, 
Friend Moody, 
Zaccheus Colburn, 
Dea. Samuel French, 
Asa Wyman, 
Joshua Chase, 
Phineas Underwood, 
Joseph Winn, Jr., 
James Pemberton, 
Ephraim C. Chase, 
Ens. Isaac Colburn, 
Lt. John Pollard, 
Jonathan Burbank, 
Thomas Pollard, 
Jonathan Hardy, 
John Caldwell, Jr., 
Waldo Haywood, 
Robert Glover, 
David Campbell, 
Dr. George Wood, 
Samuel Caldwell, 
Enos Hadley, 



TAX LISTS AND HOMESTEADS, 1 793 



295 



Wid. Sarah Winslow Heirs, 
Col. John Tyng, 
Lt. Jacob Fletcher, 
John Col burn, 
James Sherburn, 
James Gibson, Esq., 
Dea. Barnabas Gibson, 
John At wood, 
Henry Marshall, 
Nathan Winn, 
Samuel Brown, 
William Gibson, 
Parrot Hadley, 
Stephen Hadley, 
Timothy Smith, 
Jonathan Blodgett, 
Wilder Greeley, 
Samuel Hamblet, 
Joseph Blodgett, Jr., 
Lt. Ashael Blodgett, 
Ebenezer Pollard, 
Lt. Samuel Pollard, 

Joseph 

North End Invoice: 

Seth Wyman, 
Capt. John Haseltine, 
Andrew Seaton, 
John Smith, Jr., 
Wid. Mary Duty, 
Samuel G. Smith, 
Abraham Smith, 
Ens. David Lawrence, 
Philip Marshall, 
Isaac Page, 

Wid. Eleanor Eastman, 
Joseph Steele, 



Dudley Tyng, Esq., 
Mark Gould, 
Lot Spalding, 
John Wilson, 
Lt. Joseph Butterfield, 
Lt. Abial Colburn, 
Joshua Hamblet, 
Phineas W. Blodgett, 
Capt. Joseph Kelley, 
Richard Cutter, 
William Pease, 
Zachariah Hardy, 
Eliphalet Hadley, Jr., 
Robert Douglass, 
William Smith, 
Jabez Blodgett, 
Capt. Joseph Greeley, 
Joseph Blodgett, 
Jeremiah Blodgett, 
Baniah Blodgett, 
Ebenezer Pollard, Jr., 
Asa Pollard, 
Caldwell. 



Seth Wyman, Jr., 
John Ayer, 
Samuel Smith, 
Mansfield Smith, 
Lt. Thomas Smith, 
John Smith, 
James Smith, 
Jonathan Lawrence, 
Philip Marshall, Jr., 
Seth Page, 
William Graham, 
William Steele, 



296 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Ezra Burbank, 

Capt. David Peabody, 

Lt. Benjamin Kidder, 

Joseph Hobbs, 

Peter Robinson, 

William Burroughs, 

Hugh Smith, Jr., 

John Hale, 

Dea. Samson Kidder, 

Elijah Marshall, 

James Melvin, 

Wid. Rebecca Barrett, 

Lt. Isaac Barrett, 

David Tarbell, 

Dea. Thomas Marsh, 

Moses Hadley, 

Nathaniel Hale, 

Capt. Peter Cross, 

Dea. EbenezerCummings, 

Lt. Reuben Spalding, 

John Gilson, 

Ebenezer Marsh, 

William Marsh, 

John Lewis, 

Samuel Hills, 

Philip Hills, 

Enoch Foote, 

Thomas Hills, 

Levi Cross, 

James Hills, 

Daniel Marshall, 

William Hills, 

Nathaniel Hills, 

Samuel Hills, Jr., 

Capt.Ezekiel Greeley,Heirs, 

Levi Andrews, 

Moses Greeley, 



Simeon Robinson, 
Jonathan Butterfield, 
Samson Kidder, Jr., 
Josiah Merrill, 
David Peabody, 
Hugh Smith, 
Cofran Patten, 
Thomas Hale, 
Ens. Nathaniel Marshall, 
Wid. Ruth Marshall, 
David Glover, 
Joel Barrett, 
Capt. Simeon Barrett, 
Amos Davis, 
Jonathan Marsh, 
Eleazer Cummings, 
Thomas Searles, 
Peter Cross, Jr., 
John Cummings, 
Lt. Reuben Spalding, Jr. 
Samuel Marsh, Esq., 
Joshua Pierce, 
Richard Marshall, 
John Peteres, 
Samuel Marsh, Jr., 
Ebenezer Hills, 
Ens. Elijah Hills, 
Wid. Hannah Hills, 
Jeremiah Hills, 
David Hills, 
Isaac Marshall, 
John Goodspeed, 
Nathaniel Hills, Jr., 
Wid. Esther Greeley, 
Noah Greeley, 
Thomas Andrews, 
Joel Andrews, 



TAX LISTS AND HOMESTEADS, 1793 297 

Aaron Hood, Thomas Senter, 

John Robinson, Zaccheus Greeley, 

Wid. Mehitable Tarbox, Reuben Sargent, 

Wid. Sarah Tarbox, Aaron Tarbox, 

Lot Marshall, John Marshall, 

Henry Hale, Henry Merrill, 

Paul Tenney, Jonathan Lund, 

Page Smith, Capt. Abraham Page, 

Nathaniel Haselton, Amos Wyman, 

Ebenezer Richardson, Samuel Richardson, 

Gideon Butler, James Corliss, 

John Davidson, George Davidson. 

North End names, 122; South End names, 111; total, 
233. At the South End there were certainly thirteen non- 
residents. At the North End probably two non-residents, 
and possibly a few others at each section. 

Family Sketches and Homesteads 

From the preceding lists, with such other knowledge 
as the writer has of the localities and the ancient abodes of 
the early inhabitants of this town, it is possible at the date 
of this writing, 1912, to fix approximately the locations 
where many of the leading citizens and tax-payers of Not- 
tingham West had their farms and dwellings one hundred 
and nineteen years ago. 

By dint of extensive study and lengthy and exhaustive 
research many facts and data concerning these early fam- 
ilies have been gathered, some of which will now be given 
in the following items, in the hope that they may prove of 
interest to their descendants. 

Of course this information cannot, in all cases, be defi- 
nite and exact, but it is believed that it at least approxi- 
mates correctness. 

The North End will be taken first, but not alphabeti- 
cally. 



298 HISTORY OF HUDSON 



North End Settlers 

Wyman, Seth and Seth, Jr., lived near Pelham line at 
the Captain Henry Butler place, or at the next house 
north, where a cellar may be now seen. 

Haseltine, Captain John, lived on what was afterwards 
the Jeremiah Smith farm, now the Charles Stowell Smith 
place, near Pelham line, and on the road to North Pelham. 

Lawrence, Ensign David, lived at or near Lawrence 
Corner. 

Lawrence, Jonathan, is supposed to have been a broth- 
er of David and to have lived on the Nashua road from 
Lawrence Corner, on what was later known as the "Devil 
Jim" Smith farm, and for many years the Eaton place. 

Steele, William, lived on the old Steele farm in the 
north-east part of the town, which is now occupied by Os- 
wald P. Baker. 

Steele, Joseph, lived near his brother William, a little 
north. 

Robinson, Simeon, first resided at the north-east cor- 
ner of the town, and when a portion of Londonderry was 
annexed to it in 1778, the north-east corner was about four 
rods from his house. He later lived on the Howe road, 
and in 1793 it is believed that he resided at the place now 
occupied by Alphonzo and John A. Robinson. 

Peabody, Captain David, probably lived on what was 
afterwards the Cummings place, west of the Robinson 
farm. An old cellar some eighty rods north of the present 
buildings marks the spot where the Peabody house is said 
to have stood. 

Kidder, Lieutenant Benjamin, is understood to have 
resided on what was later the Charles Wood place at the 
corner of the old Tiger road, which was laid out in 1793. 



TAX LISTS AND HOMESTEADS, I973 299 

"Beginning at the road that leads from Left. Benja- 
min Kidder's to Capt. David Peabody's at a Black oak tree 
near said Kidder's house." 

Kidder, Samson, Jr., probably lived on the farm later 
owned by Deacon Benjamin Kidder and Benjamin H. Kid- 
der. His father was probably Lieut. Benjamin. Deacon 
Samson Kidder, who lived in town, may have been a broth- 
er to Lieut. Benjamin, possibly the father of Samson Jr. 

Hobbs, Joseph, lived next house easterly from the 
Samson Kidder place on the Londonderry road. A cellar 
is still visible south of the road. 

Merrill, Josiah, probably lived on the place long owned 
by Wood, easterly of the Hobbs farm. 

Robinson, Peter, lived on the same road near London- 
derry line, possibly on the old Simeon Robinson place near 
Londonderry corner. He may have been Simeon's son. 

Burroughs, William, lived near the old Tiger road laid 
out April 3, 1793. The place is now grown up to wood. 
The cellar is visible near the old road. 

Hale, John, lived on the Blanchard farm, on the hill 
north-easterly from the Center, and north of the old road. 
His wife was the daughter of Nathaniel Hills, and was born 
in the Hills' garrison. 

Kidder, Deacon Samson, possibly lived on the farm 
now owned and occupied by Clifton E. Buttrick. The 
house may have been on the old road north of the present 
Buttrick house. 

Marshall, Ensign Nathaniel, lived on Barrett's hill, at 
what is at present the B. F. Willoughby farm. 

Marshall, Elijah, lived, it is almost certain, on Barrett's 
hill at the present Melvin place, adjoining the last farm 
mentioned. See laying out of the Tiger road, April, 1793. 

Marshall, Widow Ruth, lived at the same place as 
Elijah. 



300 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Melvin, James, lived to the north-east of the present 
Melvin farm, where, not many years since, stood a stone 
chimney. This was towards the pond some distance to the 
east of the old Tiger road. 

Glover, David, probably lived on Barrett's hill, but it 
is not quite certain just where; if not, it was a little north. 
Somewhat later the Glovers owned a small tract on the 
north side of the road, which later became the James Mel- 
vin place. 

Barrett, Widow Rebecca, who was the wife of James 
Barrett, lived on Barrett's hill near where the Hiram Cross, 
or the Arden C. Cross, place now is. 

Barrett, Joel, probably lived north of Barrett's hill on 
the old Tiger road, at what was later the Cross, and later 
still the Blanchard, place, but it is not certainly known just 
where. 

Barrett, Lieutenant Isaac, lived on Barrett's hill, on 
the Robert A. Andrews homestead. 

Barrett, Captain Simeon, also had his home on Bar- 
rett's hill near where William A. Andrews now resides. 

Tarbell, David, lived on the north-west side of Bar- 
rett's hill road, a little east of its junction with the Hiram, 
or Walter H. Marsh road, where the ancient cellar may 
still be seen. The ancient Londonderry corner, previous 
to the annexation of 1778, was on this David Tarbell farm, 
some fifty or sixty rods north-east of the buildings. 

Davis, Amos, son of Nathaniel, was born in this town 
June 8, 1769. His father, Nathaniel, lived at an earlier 
date not far from Kelley's Ferry, or Taylor's Falls bridge. 
The ancient cellar is still visible on the triangular piece of 
land between the Derry road, Library street and Ferry 
street. Later he lived at what was more recently the John 
M. Thompson farm. Here, also, Amos lived in 1793. This 
farm adjoined the Deacon Thomas Marsh place. 



TAX LISTS AND HOMESTEADS, 1793 301 

Marsh, Deacon Thomas, was the son of John, Sr., and 
brother of John and Samuel. He settled first near a sand 
hill on land later owned by his grandson, Enoch S. Marsh. 
Not very far from this place, and south of the brook, there 
is another ancient cellar. The family removed to a spot 
south of the Hiram Marsh house, where Walter H. Marsh 
has lately built a cottage. It is not probable that Thomas 
Marsh ever resided in the house south of the brook. 

Marsh, Jonathan, son of Deacon Thomas, seems to 
have resided with his father in 1793, all the real estate 
being assessed to him, while his father was assessed for 
two cows only. 

Hadley, Moses, owned a grist mill — and perhaps a saw 
mill — near the outlet of Otternick pond. The cellar where 
he lived was north of the road, on the crest of a hill west 
of the brook, at the old Messer place, as it was later called, 
and where John Cutter afterwards resided. Later on he 
had a mill near where Melendy's box shop has been for 
several years past, which was situated on the same brook, 
but lower down. 

Cummings, Eleazer, son of Eleazer, was born June 16, 
1765. Eleazer, Senior, bought ninety acres of the south 
end of the Joseph Hills farm August 1, 1728. He made a 
settlement not very long after. He erected a house on the 
higher ground about twenty rods north of the present 
house of the writer, Kimball Webster. Here Eleazer, Jr., 
lived in 1793. This house was torn down in 1847. 

Hale, Nathaniel, was the twin brother of Sarah, wife 
of Eleazer Cummings. He probably worked for Mr. Cum- 
mings. He was born April 20, 1767. He was assessed 
for no real estate. 

Searles, Thomas, was the son of Jonathan, born Au- 
gust 28, 1754. He was assessed for no real estate, and had 
no permanent home at the south end. 



302 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Cross, Captain Peter, was the son of Nathan and was 
born September 28, 1729. April 22, 1724, Nathan bought 
forty-five acres of land next south of what afterwards be- 
came the Deacon William Cummings place, with the island 
at the mouth of Nashua river and two pieces of meadow. 
He settled on it not very long after. 

Cross, Peter, Jr. There were probably two houses on 
the Cross farm. Captain Peter and Peter, Jr., were each 
assessed for one-half of the real estate. Their houses were 
situated a little to the south-west of the Catholic cemetery. 

Cummings, Deacon Ebenezer, was the son of Deacon 
William, who settled on the farm next south of the Spald- 
ing place and next north of the Cross place. Ebenezer 
lived on this same place. The house stood on the east side 
of the Derry road, a little west of Lucien M. Tolles' barn. 
There was also another house west of the Derry road, 
nearly opposite this, but a little more south. 

Cummings, John, son of Ebenezer, born November 21, 
1771, was assessed for a poll tax only. 

Spalding, Lt. Reuben, born in July, 1728, was the son 
of Ebenezer. He lived on the west side of Derry road, 
where Charles W. Spalding now resides. This was the old 
Spalding farm, which was first settled by John Taylor, who 
had a garrison here, and which afterwards came into the 
possession of John Marshall. Lieutenant Reuben was the 
father of Reuben, Jr., who owned one-half of the farm. 
Reuben, Jr., died November 20, 1798. 

Marsh, Samuel, Esq., was the son of John, an early 
settler. He was born about 1733, and resided on the old 
Marsh farm next south of the Joshua Pierce place, which 
seems to have been owned by John Marsh as early as 1743 # 
By his second wife, Sarah Poole, Samuel Marsh had a son, 
Fitch Poole Marsh, who later owned the north part of the 
same farm. 



TAX LISTS AND HOMESTEADS, 1 793 303 

Pierce, Joshua, lived on the old Pierce farm, next north 
of the Marsh place above noted. This was early owned 
by Edward Spalding, and was a part of the original Joseph 
Hills farm. He died September 25, 1857, aged one hun- 
dred and one years. The farm was later owned by his 
son, James Pierce, Esq., and later still by Abram Ferryall. 

Marshall, Richard, owned a farm adjoining Joshua 
Pierce on the north. The house stood on the west side of 
the road. This land was purchased of Josiah Cummings, 
October 13, 1784, and sold to Joshua Pierce, November 1, 
1802, after which it formed the north part of the Pierce 
farm. 

Lewis, John, appears to have lived on the farm next 
north of the Richard Marshall place, on the old Nathaniel 
Hills garrison farm where the Hills brothers first settled. 
This place was subsequently owned by Clifton M. Hills, 
and now, 1912, by J. H. LeGallee. Lewis was first as- 
sessed here in 1791, and probably died in 1796 or 1797, as 
in the latter year the property was assessed to his heirs. 

Hills, Samuel, was the son of Nathaniel, Sr., and was 
born in Hills garrison, September 2, 1725. He was as- 
sessed in 1746, and probably died about 1799, as the estate 
in 1799 was assessed to the "Heirs of Samuel Hills," and 
in 1802 to the Widow Sarah Hills. He lived next north of 
the Hills garrison farm, on a place later owned by Oliver 
Sptake and Tyler Thomas. 

Hills, Thomas, was the son of Ezekiel and Hannah, 
born March 30, 1751. He was the father of Amos, and in 
1793 probably lived on the farm with his mother, Hannah, 
either in the same house or on the opposite side of the 
road, at the Amos Hills place — "Hills Row." 

Hills, Hannah, was the widow of Ezekiel, grandfather 
of Amos, who died May 14, 1790, aged 72 years and 11 
months. Hannah died September 27, 1816, aged 97 years. 



304 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

She lived on Amos Hills' place on the north side of the 
Derry road — "Hills Row" — a little west of a small brook. 

Cross, Levi, was a non-resident. He lived a little 
north of the town line in the edge of Litchfield, on what 
was afterwards the Colonel Cross farm and later the Aaron 
Cutler place. 

Hills, Jeremiah, son of James and Abigail, was born 
March 1, 1727. He was the grandfather of Colonel Wil- 
liam, and the great-grandfather of Granville Hills. He 
lived on the Granville Hills place, and died April 4, 1810. 
This place is now owned by Charles W. Hill. 

Hills, James, the son of Jeremiah, was born August B, 
1765, and lived on the farm with his father. 

Hills, David, also a son of Jeremiah, was born July 15, 
1770. He was probably living with his father in 1793. 

Marshall, Daniel, lived not far from the Litchfield line 
near where John B. Marshall resided, until his house was 
burned. He is supposed to have been a descendant of 
John Marshall, an early settler in town, and may have been 
his son. He must have been seventy years, or more, old 
in 1795, since he paid no poll tax in that year. 

Marshall, Isaac, was probably the son of Daniel, and 
born January 26, 1771. He lived on the same farm as his 
father, but possibly not in the same house, as there may 
have been two houses on the place. 

Hills, William, the son of Henry, and grandson of 
Henry, was born March 3, 1751. He married Sarah Smith, 
and resided on the farm that had been his father's, and 
probably his grandfather's. Later this place belonged to 
Stephen D. Greeley, and is now the Dooley farm. He 
moved to Antrim, N. H., in 1810. 

Hills, Samuel, Jr., was the son of Nathaniel who was 
the son of Nathaniel, and was called Junior for the reason 
that he had an uncle Samuel Hills living on the Litchfield 



TAX LISTS AND HOMESTEADS, 1 793 305 

road. He lived on the farm later belonging to his son, 
Abijah, and afterwards to Franklin Augustus Hills. 

Greeley, Widow Esther, who had been the wife of 
Ezekiel, probably lived on the south side of the Derry road, 
nearly opposite the No. 9 school house, where the old cel- 
lar may still be seen. If that is not the exact spot it was 
near there. 

Greeley, Noah, son of Ezekiel and Esther, lived with 
his mother in 1793. 

Andrews, Levi, lived on the north side of the Derry 
road between the Jackson E. Greeley place and the No. 9 
school house. The old cellar is still visible there. 

Andrews, Thomas, son of Levi, was born May 2, 1771, 
and lived with his father in 1793. 

Greeley, Moses, built the Jackson E. Greeley house, 
previous to which time the exact location of his residence 
is uncertain. He resided in this house until his death on 
August 15, 1848, at the age of eighty-four years. He lived 
very near the same place in 1793. 

Hale, Henry, son of Deacon Henry, was born May 21, 
1740. He lived on a portion of the land that had been his 
father's near the Center, the exact location of which is not 
known. 

Merrill, Henry, son of Daniel and Mary (Hale) Mer- 
rill, was born July 17, 1763. He lived at the Center on 
the farm that formerly belonged to his grandfather, Deacon 
Henry Hale, afterwards to Reuben Greeley, Esq., and now, 
1912, to John Wentworth. 

Tenney, Dr. Paul, who came into this town to reside, 
seems to have been a man of ability and a physician of 
skill. He lived at Hudson Center, on the south side of the 
Pelham road, at what was later Tenney's Tavern, and after- 
wards the Dr. James Emery homestead — now owned by 
Henry C. Brown. 



306 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Smith, Page, son of Samuel and Hannah, was born 
February 28, 1750. He married Lydia Haselton, and lived 
eighty rods south-east from Hudson Center, on the top of 
a hill, and at the south side of the Pelham road, where his 
son Jefferson lived later. 

Page, Captain Abraham, resided at several places in 
town at earlier dates, but in 1793 he lived at what has been 
for many years the Haselton farm. In 1793 he was about 
seventy-seven years old. At that date there seems to have 
been two houses on the place. 

Haselton, Nathaniel, lived in 1793, on the farm later 
owned by his son, Luther, and later by his grandson, 
George W., and now by his great-grandson, Arthur W. 
Haselton. Abraham Page owned this place before him. 
The old Haselton house stood a short distance south of the 
present one, where its old cellar may be seen. 

Butler, Gideon, lived easterly of the Haselton road on 
a road, now discontinued, but formerly running from the 
Haselton place easterly over Corliss hill, and south-westerly 
to the Bush hill road west of Chase hill. Beside this old 
road the ancient house cellar may still be seen. 

Corliss, James, resided at the easterly foot of Corliss 
hill, on the North Pelham road from Hudson Center. 

Smith, Samuel, the father of Henry, and the grand- 
father of Dustin B. Smith, resided near where Henry lived 
— now the home of Henry F. Smith. 

Smith, Mansfield, son of Samuel and Jeanette, was 
born January 17, 1779. He lived near his father. 

Duty, Widow Mary, lived on the Duty place at Bush 
hill, on the old road leading easterly from the Bush hill 
road to the place formerly belonging to J B. Smith. 

Marsh, Ebenezer, son of Samuel, Senior, was born 
January 13, 1767. He resided at his father's old home- 



TAX LISTS AND HOMESTEADS, 1 793 307 

stead on the Litchfield road, the farm now belonging to 
Josiah K. Wheeler heirs. 

Hills, Philip, son of Oliver and Abigail, was born 
March 2, 1754. He seems to have lived at Hills' Ferry, 
where a ferry across the Merrimack was operated for many 
years — first by Nathaniel Hills and later by his descend- 
ants. This was near the Litchfield road. The place was 
owned by the Hills until a few years since, when, as the 
estate of George E. Hill, it was sold to J. W. Howard. 

Hills, Ebenezer, son of Oliver and Abigail, was born 
December 25, 1767. He resided a short distance from 
Hills' Ferry, on the farm that later was the home of Os- 
good Hill. 

Hills, Ensign Elijah, son of James and Abigail, was 
born March 15, 1738. He lived on the north side of the 
Derry road, two and one-half miles from Taylor's Falls 
bridge, and on a farm later occupied by his grandson, Al- 
den Hills. The place is now known as the Alverne farm, 
owned and occupied by Dr. Alfred K. Hills. 

Senter, Thomas, lived on the Derry road. Just where 
his house stood is not known to a certainty, but it was not 
far from the small Senter burial ground at Potash Corner, 
and probably was where the Jeremiah Heath house is now 
located. He was a deacon of the church. His death oc- 
curred December 25, 1834. 

South End 

Kelley, Captain Joseph, at one time owned the ferry 
near where Taylor's Falls bridge now is, and lived in a 
house about thirty rods east of the bridge, at the present 
junction of Campbell avenue and Main street. He re- 
sided here and operated the ferry for many years, but lived 
at several other places in town at different times, and pos- 
sibly may have lived a little further south in 1793. 



308 H1STOKV OF HUDSON 

Cutter, Richard, came here from Menotomy, now 
Cambridge. He settled on the south bank of Otternick 
brook, half a mile east of Taylor's Falls bridge, and nearly 
south of the George W. Marshall house. For his second 
wife he married, April 6, 1789, Ruth (Hadley) Merrill, 
daughter of Parrot Hadley. She afterwards married Aaron 
Hamblet. 

Douglass, Robert, lived on a farm situated on the 
north side of the road leading from the town pound to Bush 
hill. This farm later belonged to James McCoy, and now, 
1912, to John Lenahan. 

Smith, Timothy, lived on the place afterwards known 
as the "Jim" Barrett place, near the brook, and near where 
Pollard's, later Winn's, mills were located. He was a 
prominent citizen of this town for many years. 

Smith, William, was the son of Timothy, and lived on 
the homestead with his father. They were each assessed 
for an equal amount of land of each grade. At one time 
there were two houses on the place, one of them just north 
of the present one. 

Greeley, Wilder, son of Ezekiel and Esther, and broth- 
er of Sarah, wife of Joseph, was born February 19, 1771. 
When he was twenty-two years of age his son, Moody, was 
born, October 7, 1793. At this time he was living near his 
brother-in-law, Joseph. 

Greeley, Captain Joseph, was born September 29, 
1756, and died May 13, 1840. He lived on the farm for- 
merly owned by his father, later by his son Samuel, and 
now by his grandson, Samuel A. Greeley, the son of Sam- 
uel. This farm was situated on the Lowell road, a little 
more than two miles south of the bridge, and was the old 
Greeley place first settled by Samuel, Senior. 

Wason, Samuel, lived a short distance west of the 
Wason road, as it is called, on the north side of Bush hill. 



TAX LISTS AND HOMESTEADS, 1 793 309 

The old cellar is still to be seen there, on the land of Henry 
Davis. 

Wason, Moses, son of Samuel, was born November 9, 
1771, and lived with his father. He paid a poll tax only. 

Davis, Asa, Esq., occupied and owned a farm which 
later came into the possession of his son, Daniel T. Davis, 
later still was owned by his son-in-law, Samuel Morrison, 
and now belongs to his grandson, Augustus F. Morrison. 
This farm lies on the northerly slope of Bush hill, on the 
Pelham road, and near what was No. 3 school house. Pre- 
vious to Davis' time it was the property of a Caldwell. 

Caldwell, Joseph, probably lived on the north slope of 
Bush hill, at or near the place formerly belonging to Wil- 
liam Caldwell, and not far from the Asa Davis farm. 

Caldwell, James, resided at or near the Moses Smith 
place, so called, a little northerly of the summit of Bush 
hill. This farm lies on the Pelham road, and is now owned 
by George E. Caldwell. 

Wason, James, at eighty-three years of age lived at the 
top of Bush hill, on the east side of the Pelham road, where 
Samuel Walker lived later, and later still Oscar O. Arm- 
strong. In 1793 he was assessed only for a horse and cow. 

Wason, Lieutenant Thomas, son of James, when about 
forty-five years old was assessed for the real estate then, 
or formerly, belonging to his father. 

Cummings, Captain David, son of Ephraim, was born 
May 20, 1738, and lived where his father first settled, in 
the early settlement of the town. His wife was Elizabeth 
Butterfield. His house stood a little south of the road, at 
the foot of Bush hill. At one time there were two houses 
on the place a short distance apart. 

Cummings, David, son of Captain David, was born 
about 17(53, and lived with his father. He married Phcebe 
Wyman. 



310 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Merrill, Benjamin, son of Ensign Nathaniel and Olive 
(Luncl) Merrill, was born January 24, 1768. He lived for 
many years on a farm in the south-east part of the town, 
at the end of a bridle path that turns off from the Back 
road near the Burnett place. He died there. 

Stewatt, Robert, owned and occupied the farm later 
owned and occupied by Thomas Gowing, and now by 
George T. Gowing. It is in the south-east part of the 
town, near the Pelham line and Gumpus pond. 

Ford, Colonel James, was assessed here as early as 
1763, and up to 1799. Where he came from is not known. 
He owned and occupied the Samuel Gowing farm in the 
south-east part of the town, now owned by Edwin S. Gow- 
ing. He was the clerk of Captain Samuel Greeley's Lex- 
ington Company in April, 1775. He was in the army at 
Cambridge six months in 1775, and was a lieutenant. Also 
he was at the battle of Bunker Hill. He raised a company 
of which he was the captain for fourteen days at Ticon- 
deroga in 1777; he was the captain of a company at Ben- 
nington for two months in 1777, and was severely wound- 
ed at the battle of Bennington. 

Gould, Joseph, came here in 1748. The old Joseph 
Gould place is in the south part of the town on what was 
once the Bowman road, now discontinued. It is south-east 
of what was formerly the T. S. Ford farm, and not far 
from New Found meadow. Once this road could boast of 
two houses, but they have long since gone to decay. 

Seavey, Andrew, came here in 1762, if not earlier. He 
lived at the south-east corner of the town, not far from the 
Goulds. He died June 1, 1802, and was buried in the small 
cemetery at the south end. 

Johnson, Moses, settled here as early as 1770, on the 
farm later owned by Timothy Ford, later still by his son, 
Timothy S. Ford, and now by James A. Sanders. He was 
the son of Colonel William and Abigail (Widow Stickney) 



TAX LISTS AND HOMESTEADS, 1 793 311 

Johnson, and was born May 13, 1737. April "20, 1758, he 
married Anna Moody, daughter of Benjamin and Anna 
(Bradstreet) Moody, born January 10, 1737. They had a 
large family of children. 

Brown, Robinson, resided on the farm once owned by 
Grant and later by Hoffman — the first house west of the 
Samuel Gowing place. 

Merrill, Deacon Isaac, son of Samuel and Susanna, 
was born August 20, 1754. February 25, 1779, he married 
Olive Merrill, born December 4, 1751, who was probably 
the daughter of the Rev. Nathaniel Merrill. He lived on 
the Back road, the second house south from the old ceme- 
tery, south of Musquash brook, and north of the T. S. 
Ford place. In 1777 he was in the army in New York and 
served two months. He was also in the Ticonderoga com- 
pany eight days. 

Burns, George, son of George and Martha, was born 
February 5, 1743. He married Elizabeth Adams, and lived 
on the Back road at the south part of the town — the exact 
location is not known at this time He had a Revolution- 
ary War record. 

Moody, Friend, is said to have lived at the south part 
of the town, on a farm later owned by Elias Barron. It 
was the first house on the west side of the road, southerly 
from where the old Davenport road intersects the Back 
road. He was a prominent townsman for many years. 

Colburn, Zaccheus, was born February 16, 1765, and 
was the son of Thomas, who was killed by lightning. He 
owned a farm on the Back road, which later became the 
property of Thomas B. Wason, who married Colburn's 
daughter, and which now belongs to James F. Wilson. 
The house was the first one south of the junction of roads. 
The place was known for many years as the Wason farm. 

Chase, Joshua, seems without much doubt to have 
lived for many years on the old Chase place, east of the 



312 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Lowell road, where his son, Jacob, afterwards lived and 
died, and which was later owned by Benjamin F. Chase 
Jacob's son. It is a little south of the highway leading 
from the Lowell to the Hack road. 

Chase, Benjamin, son of Joshua, was born August 17, 
1765. He resided on the homestead farm with his father. 
There were two houses on the place. 

Underwood, Phineas, probably moved from Merrimack 
to this town about 1785. He was on the board of select- 
men for several years, and proved to be a prominent citi- 
zen. He lived on the Lowell road, and on the farm next 
north of the Joseph Winn farm, which was later owned by 
Reuben Spalding, and now belongs to his daughter, Mrs. 
John Groves. He died May 9, 1798, aged 45. 

Winn, Joseph, was born at Woburn, Mass., November 
17, 1723, and came into town with his father, who settled 
here at an early date. He lived on the west side of the 
Lowell road, next south of the Underwood farm, later 
owned by Paul T. Winn, and now by Elmer C. Winn. 

Winn, Joseph, Jr., was the only child of the foregoing 
Joseph, and remained on the home farm, which has always 
been owned by the Winn family since its first settlement 
by Joseph. It is the next farm north of the old Colburn 
place. 

Colburn, Ensign Isaac, lived upon the old Colburn 
place settled at an early date by his father, Captain Thom- 
as Colburn. It is the next farm north of the Stephen 
Chase place, and the house is at the end of the road. It is 
now owned by Eugene Donnelly heirs. 

Burns, Captain William, son of George, was born Oc- 
tober 29, 1744. He lived on the old homestead where he 
was born, east of the Lowell road, and which has been 
owned and occupied by Robert Groves for many years. 



TAX LISTS AND HOMESTEADS, 1 793 313 

Pemberton, James. He had a long and honorable 
Revolutionary War record. He resided for several years 
on the west side of the Lowell road near the Blodgett cem- 
etery. At this time he lived farther south, near the Burns 
place. 

Chase, Stephen, lived on the farm so long owned by 
the Chases, the house being nearly one-half mile west of 
the Lowell road, near where is now the point known as the 
"Five Cent Limit" on the Lowell line of the electric rail- 
way. He may have been a son of the elder Stephen, who 
lived there before him. It was the first farm south of the 
old Thomas Colburn homestead. Ephraim Chandler and 
John Chase were his sons. 

Marshall, Benjamin, lived a little south of the Stephen 
Chase farm, probably between the River road and the 
river, and possibly at the ferry. The exact location is not 
known. 

Pollard, Lt. Samuel, purchased of Ezekiel Chase, Au- 
gust 9, 1773, a farm of one hundred acres, more or less. 
It was the first farm north of Tyngsborough line, and 
south of the Ferry road. The cellar may be seen south of 
the old Ferry road on a rise of ground near a very large 
elm tree. It is nearly south, and some forty rods distant 
from the old Ford house now owned by Paul Butler. 

Burbank, Jonathan, who married Elizabeth Cummings, 
lived on a farm later belonging to Harris, and now to Ed- 
ward F. Eayrs, it being the next north from the Wilson 
Mills place. It was conveyed to Jonathan by his father, 
Samuel Burbank, November 1, 1792. (Recorded Vol. 30, 
Page 473.) 

Wilson, Joseph B., owned and occupied the farm and 
mill on Nacook or Musquash brook. It was the farm next 
south of the Jonathan Burbank place, and was long known 
as the Wilson Mills, there being a grist mill and saw mill 
there. 



314 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Haywood, Samuel Smith, lived on the old Haywood 
farm on the hill west of Deacon David Burns' place, and 
west of the road. The house was at a considerable dis- 
tance from the road, and on the south side of the hill — 
nearly half way to the Lowell highway. Its cellar is yet 
visible. He died April 1, 1801, aged sixty-eight years, and 
was buried in the Blodgett cemetery. 

Huey, Mansfield, lived on the northerly part of Bush 
hill, and east of most of the other Bush hill settlements. 
The farm was the same as that later owned by Daniel 
Smith, and still later by Daniel Butler Smith. The build- 
ings were burned a few years since. There was no public 
road to the place. The Huey house was a little further 
east than the Daniel Smith house, on a tract of land later 
owned by Dustin B. Smith. The old cellar is still visible. 

Glover, Robert, the son of Robert and Jane (Burns) 
Glover, lived for many years on the north side of Bush hill, 
where he seems to have been born July 9, 1741. 

Searles, Elnathan, son of Jonathan and Thankful, was 
born here May 26, 1763. He lived for many years on the 
old homestead of his father, Jonathan Searles, who settled 
there in 1741. It lies in the east part of the town, a little 
south of the road leading from the North Pelham highway 
to Bush hill. It is the same farm that has since been called 
the Floyd place, and is now owned and occupied by Aaron 
Estey. 

Caldwell, Lieutenant Alexander, lived on the west side 
of Bush hill, on the farm later occupied by his son, Alex- 
ander, Jr., south of the Spear place, and near by where 
Fred E. Smith has erected a house. This was the old 
Caldwell place. 

Atwood, John, was probably the son of William. He 
was the father of John, Elizabeth and Sally, by his first 
wife, and by his second, the father of David, William, Dan- 
iel and Rachel. He lived on the Lowell road, about a mile 



TAX LISTS AND HOMESTEADS, 1 793 315 

south of the "Bridge," where, later, his son, David, lived 
nearly all his life. The place is now known as Elmhurst. 

Hardy, Zachariah, was the son of Nathaniel and Es- 
ther, and was born October 12, 17(59. There is a discrep- 
ancy of two years in his age as given at the time of his 
death. He became an orphan when young, as on April 24, 
1777, his father enlisted for three years in the Continental 
army, in Colonel Moses Nichols' Regiment, and as no later 
report of him appears he probably died in the army. Zach- 
ariah was brought up, in the south part of the town, by 
Samuel Pollard, who had no children of his own. He lived 
for many years at what was afterwards known as the Gillis 
place, at the junction of the Lowell road with Library 
street. 

Blodgett, Jonathan, son of Joseph, Senior, was born 
December 5, 1726. He lived on the west side of the Low- 
ell road. His farm was a portion of the original Joseph 
Blodgett place, and was later owned by John Chase. It 
now belongs to Augustus F. and Harry D. Blodgett. 

Blodgett, Jabez, son of Jonathan and Elizabeth, was 
born January 4, 1767. He married Rachel Pollard, and 
they had fifteen children— six boys and nine girls — all of 
whom grew to manhood and womanhood and lived each 
beyond half a century. He seems to have lived on his 
father's home-stead or very near there. 

Marshall, Henry, was the father of Samuel and several 
other children. He lived on the east side of the Lowell 
road, less than a mile from the "Bridge." The place was 
later occupied by his son, Samuel, who died April 23, 1852. 
The house was burned some time in the forties. The cel- 
lar and well may still be seen some twenty rods south of 
the brick power-house. 

Blodgett, Joseph and Joseph, Jr., lived at the old farm 
of the first Joseph, on the Lowell road, two and a half 
miles from the "Bridge." The exact location of their 
dwelling cannot now be determined, but it seems probable 
that it was at the house now belonging to Philip J. Connell. 



CHAPTER XXV 

History of the Schools 

The matter of education was a prominent one in the 
minds of the early settlers of New England, and almost 
simultaneously with the planting of the church was the 
founding of the school. In this respect the province of 
New Hampshire was scarcely behind Massachusetts in 
prompt and decided action. In 1719 a school law was 
enacted, and it remained in force until after the Revolu- 
tion, which provided — 

That each Town in the Province having the number of fifty house- 
holders shall be constantly provided of a school master to teach children 
to read and write, and when any town has one hundred families or house- 
holders, there shall also be a Grammar school set up and kept. . . And 
some discreet person of good conversation, well instructed in the tounges, 

shall be procured as master thereof Every such school master 

to be suitably encouraged and paid by the inhabitants If any 

such Town should neglect the due observance of the Law for the space of 
six months, it should incur a Penalty of ^20. 

In 1721 this law was amended in respect to towns hav- 
ing one hundred families, so, instead of the town being 
liable to a fine, it should fall upon the selectmen, if the 
town for one month should be without a grammar school. 

The records of this town do not show that this regula- 
tion in regard to schools was very closely followed. In 
fact, the town books are suspiciously silent in relation to 
the affairs of education. It was not until the annual town 
meeting, March 10, 1766, that we find the first entry of 
this kind. Then it was 

Voted to raise £\v> lawful money for the support of a school in this 
Town the present year. 

A little over two years later, September 26, 1768, 
316 



HISTORY OF THE SCHOOLS 317 

Voted to raise ,£400 Hampshire money, old tenor for schooling this 
present year. 

At a special meeting October 9, 1769, an attempt to 
raise money for schooling was voted down. Two years 
later the sum of eight pounds was raised for schooling, this 
money to be divided into four equal parts. In 1772, the 
same amount was raised, and the following year this sum 
was doubled. At this meeting, November 1, 1773, it was 
voted to divide the town into four school districts, and di- 
vide the money equally among these. 

At the annual meeting the following year, adjourned 
to March 28, 1774, an article in the warrant to see if the 
town would maintain a "standing school " in the town, was 
voted in the negative. On September 19, sixteen pounds 
was agreed upon as a suitable sum to expend for educa- 
tion that year, this amount to be divided as heretofore into 
four parts. In 1775 eight pounds was raised and in 1776 
twelve pounds was raised for schooling. For two years, 
the dark period of the Revolution, there is no mention of 
money for schooling. November 1, 1779, 

Voted to raise ,£300 L. M. for schooling this present year. 

September 25, 1780, 

Voted to raise ,£450 L. M. for schooling this present year. 

September 24, 1781, 

Voted to raise .£36 L. M. for schooling. 

This sum was raised successively for six years suc- 
ceeding, but in 1788 the sum was increased four pounds, so 
it became forty pounds. 

September 1, 1785, a committee of three, consisting of 
Asa Davis, John Haseltine and Isaac Merrill, was appoint 
ed to re-district the town , and there is no doubt that these 
gentlemen attended to their duties, and divided the town 
into nine school districts, within a reasonable time after 
their appointment. For some unknown reason their re- 
port was not accepted by action of. the town until March 



318 HISTORY OF HUDSON" 

21, 1799,. more than thirteen years after their election tv 
office. 

The school division of the town as planned by this 
committee, with the exception of dividing No. 9 so as to 
form another district known as No. 10, remained substan- 
tially the same for one hundred years, or until 1885, when 
the town became a single school district. 

School Houses 

March 21, 1799, the first action relative to building 
school houses was defeated in the town meeting. A peti- 
tion was read, signed by Henry Hale, Page Smith, Moses 
Hadley, Henry Merrill, Paul Tenney, Jesse Davidson and 
William Gibson, asking to be set off as "a squad" by them, 
selves and to have their share of the school money to be 
expended as they found it most convenient. This request 
was granted. At this meeting, too, the long delayed re- 
port of the committee for re-districting the town was adopt- 
ed with the exception of the "squad mentioned in the fore- 
going page." 

Rkport of District Committee 

We the subscribers being chosen a committee to divide the town 
into Districts for schooling, and number the same, and report to ihe town 
as soon as maybe, agreeable thereto we have divided it into nine districts 
as followeth (Viz.) 

The names in No. 1 : 

Thomas Hamblet, Silas Gould, John Merrill, Moses Johnson, I >ea. 
Isaac Merrill, Lt. Win. Burns, Friend Moody, Eld. Samuel French, Abel 
Merrill, George Burns, Jona. Tenney, The place formerly Samuel Brown, 
the place formerly Thomas Hamblet, John Butler, Robert Stewart, Maj. 
James Ford, Benja. Merrill, Joseph Gould, Andrew Seavey, Jona. Gould. 

No. 2. Joseph B. Wilson, Samuel Burbank, Henry Chase, John Pol- 
lard, Thomas Pollard, Benjamin Marshall, Stephen Chase, Isaac Colburn, 
Joseph Winn, Jane Seavey, Samll. Pollard, James Farmer, Ebenezer Pol- 
lard, Jeremiah Klodgett, Joshua Chase, Jonathan Hardy. 

No. 3. Ebenezer Rand, Abner Watkins, Capt. David Cummings, 
Jos. Bradley, James Wason, Lt. Thomas Wason, James Caldwell, Joseph 
Caldwell, Asa Davis, John Huey, Nathaniel Seavey, Wid. Martha Cald- 



'HISTORY OF THE SCHOOLS 319 

«r.-ell, Robert Glover, Samuel Wason, Samuel Caldwell, Alexander Cald- 
well, Kliphalet Hadley, En OS Hadley, Ichabod Eastman. 

No. 4. Joseph Blodgett, Samuel Haywood, John Caldwell, Joseph 
Greeley, Edward Tenney, Jonathan Blodgett, James Pemberton, Timothy 
Pollard, Timothy Smith, Parrot Hadley, Eliphalet Hadley, Jr., Stephen 
Hadley, Richard Cutter, Wm. Atwood, Abijah Reed, Wb. Gibson, Phin- 
eas YV. Blodgett, Henry Marshall. 

No. 5. Seth Wyman, Lt. John Haseltine, John Haseltine, Jr., Jona. 
Bradley, Wid. Mary Duty, Samuel Smith, Huey, Jona. Searles, 

Elnathan Searles, John Campbell, Gideon Butler, Robert Patten, James 
Roby, Page Smith. Capt. Abraham Page, Wd. Sarah Kenney, Henry 
Hale, Lt. Hugh Smith, Lt. Thomas Smith. 

No. 6. Capt. Joseph Kelley, Capt. Peter Cross, Wd. Phebe Cum- 
mings, Dea. Ebenezer Cummings, Lt. Reuben Spalding, John Whittle 
Wd. Martha Davis, Dea. Thomas Marsh, Capt. Samuel Marsh, Joshua 
Pierce, Richard Marshall, Samuel Hills, Samuel Marsh, Philip Hills, Dan- 
iel Pierce, Timothy Patch, Thomas Cross, Philbrook Colby, Moses Had- 
ley. 

No. 7- Ens. David Lawrence, Jona. Lawrence, John Smith, David 

Campbell, E Grimes, Wm. Grimes, Robert McAdams, Andrew 

Robinson, Philip Marshall, George Burroughs, Isaac Page, Jacob Page, 
Jos. Steele, Peter Robinson, Jr., Capt. David Peabody, David Peabody, 
Jr., Amos Robinson, Wm. Steele. 

No. 8. John Hale, Samson Kidder, Nat. Marshall, Elijah Marshall, 
Wd. Ruth Marshall, Benja. Melvin, Thomas Barrett, Moses Barrett, Isaac 
Barrett, Ens. Simeon Barrett, David Tarbell, Richard Hardy, Josiah Bur- 
roughs, Wm. Burroughs, Nat. Burroughs, Eliphalet Hills, Joel Barrett. 

No. 9. Lt. Benja. Kidder, Joseph Hobbs, Joseph Nichols, Wm. 
Gibson, Simeon Robinson, Zach. Greeley, John Robinson, Lt. Ebenr. 
Tarbox, Lt. Henry Tarbox, John Marshall. Wd. Deborah Marshall, 
Thomas Senter, Levi Andrews, Capt. Ezekiel Greeley, Nathaniel Hills, 
Daniel Marshall, Wm. Hills, Jeremiah Hills, Doct. Joseph Gray, Lt 
Ezekiel Hills, Thomas Hills, Ens. Elijah Hills. 

Note: — Wm. Gibson, is set off from District No. 4 to Davidson's 
squad. 

Nottingham West, Jan. 16, 1786. 

ASA DAVIS, 

JON. HASELTINE, Committee. 

ISAAC MERRILL. 

There were twenty names given in list No. 1 ; 16 in 
No. 2; 19 in No. 3; 18 in No. 4; 19 in No. 5; 19 in No 6; 
18 in No. 7; 17 in No. 8; and 22 in No. 9^; making the 
total number of families, according to the report, 168. 



320 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

District Number One covered the south-east corner of 
the town, and was known as "Musquash." The school 
house was, and is now, on the east side of the Back road, 
a short distance north of Musquash brook, and probably on 
the site of the Nottingham meeting-house. 

District Number Two covered the south-west part of 
the town, and was known as "The Red school house Dis- 
trict." The house was located on the Chase and Colburn 
road a short distance west of the River road. 

District Number Three was situated at the east side 
of the town, north of Number One, and was known as 
"Bush Hill District." The house stood on the east side of 
Bush Hill road, near the Asa Davis, since, the Morrison 
homestead. 

District Number Four was located at the west part of 
the town, north of Number Two and east of Number Three 
district. The school house for many years, and until about 
the middle of the last century, stood in the side of the 
Blodgett cemetery, a little north but very near where the 
iron gate now is. This was on the site of the second, or 
Nottingham West meeting-house. This house was burned 
in 1855 and another was built on the west side of the high- 
way near "Elmhurst." 

District Number Five, called "Hudson Center Dis- 
trict," was located east of Number Four and north of Num- 
ber Three, and included the center of the town. For many 
years the house stood near the summit of Corliss hill, on 
the west side of the road. Later it was located on the 
north side of the Pelham road, a little less than one-half 
mile south-east of Hudson Center. 

District Number Six, known as the "Farms District," 
was situated north of Number Four on the west side of the 
town, and extended north to Litchfield line. The school 
house was located on the west side of the Derry road, and 
between that and the highway leading from that to the 
Litchfield road, near the junction of the two roads. About 
1852 a new school house was built a short distance south- 



HENRY O. SMITH, M. D. 



HISTORY OF THE SCHOOLS 321 

erly, on the east side of the Derry road, which was changed 
into a dwelling house by Menzell S. French about 1898. 

District Number Seven, or "Frog Corner District," 
covered the north-east section of the town bordering on 
the Londonderry and Windharn lines, and including "Law- 
rence Corner." The house was located at the junction of 
the Steele and Robinson roads, about one-half mile north- 
west of Lawrence Corner. 

District Number Eight included all of Barrett's hill, 
for which it was named, with several families to the south 
and west. The school house was situated on the northerly 
side of the highway a short distance westerly of the sum- 
mit of Barrett's hill. 

District Number Nine, or "Kidder District," was sit- 
uated west of Number Seven, and was bounded north by 
Londonderry line, south by Number Eight, and west by 
Number Ten. The school house was at the top of the hill 
on the Kidder road, east of the Derry road. 

District Number Ten, set off from Number Nine in 
1806, was a small district called "Hills' Row," and was sit- 
uated at the north part of the town, west of Number Nine 
and east of Number Six. The house stood on the north 
side of the Derry road, a short distance west of the junc- 
tion of the highway that leads to Barrett's hill. 

Returning to the town records we find that at a meet- 
ing held March 6, 1797, it was voted not to raise any money 
to build school houses, and the same result followed an at- 
tempt of this kind in 1799, also at a town meeting held 
March 16, 1804. 

A school house was built in District Number Five, by 
the inhabitants of the district, about 1806. It is probable 
that school houses were erected in all of the districts not 
far from this time, but were built by the respective dis- 
tricts. The property of each district was assessed to pay 
the necessary expense of building these houses. These 
buildings, as the writer remembers them thirty years or 
more after their construction, were similar in design, but 



322 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

they varied somewhat in size, according to the number of 
pupils in the district. Their width was nearly equal t© 
their length. The roof was pyramidical with the vertex in 
the center. The entrance was at the middle of the front 
of the building. The teacher's platform and desk was on 
the other side, directly opposite the entrance. 

The seats and desks for the pupils were made of heavy, 
hard pine plank and were placed on the two sides of the 
school room, at the right and left of the entrance, leaving 
a floor space between of sufficient width for recitations and 
other purposes. 

The seats were built on an incline, ascending as they 
reached back to the wall. Those farthest removed from 
the floor were larger than the front row, and intended for 
the older pupils. The front seats, occupied by the smallest 
scholars, had no desks, while those at the other seats were 
built with a height in proportion to the anticipated size of 
the pupil. But frequently a small child was obliged to oc- 
cupy a seat intended for one several years older, or it 
might be the case would be reversed. Under either situa- 
tion the result was far from satisfactory. The boys were 
given the seats on one side of the house, while the girls 
had those on the other. So the two divisions sat facing 
each other, with neither directly in front of the gaze of the 
teacher. 

The back seats were built along the wall continuous 
the entire length of the building, but the other seats were 
built in tiers and stood on sills four inches square or more, 
with passage-ways between running down to the recitation 
floor. Each bench was long enough to accommodate two 
pupils comfortably, but in case of an extra number of schol- 
ars three were placed in the room designed for two. This 
crowding the pupils into such close quarters was often a 
source of great annoyance to the teacher, as they were 
more apt to be mischievous and had their attention drawn 
away from their studies by the actions of a seat-mate. 

There are no statistics at hand to show the number of 
pupils attending the schools in town previous to 1847. The 



HISTORY OF THE SCHOOLS 



323 



population in 1810 was given as 1,376, and in 1850, forty 
years later, was 1,312, consequently the number of school 
children in town since the building of the school houses to 
the latter date could not have varied much. The statistics 
for 1847, as given by the superintending school committee, 
and the number of weeks of school are given in the follow- 
ing table: 

School Report, 1847 



,8| 


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$ 6.00 


14 


30 


14 


16 


23 




2d. 


18.00 


9 


20 


10 


10 


17 


2 


1st. 


6.00 


14 


42 


20 


22 


29 




2d. 


18.00 


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52 


31 


21 


42 


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4.00 


14 


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12 


26 


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7.00 


13 


50 


18 


32 


38 




2d. 


17.00 


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60 


33 


27 


47 


5 


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6.00 


18 


26 


7 


19 


16 




2d. 


15.00 


6 


36 


19 


17 


30 


6 


1st. 


5.66 


14 


29 


14 


15 


18 




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18.00 


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40 


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37 


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27 


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16.50 


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15 


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23 


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5.33 


10 


18 


3 


15 


14 




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15.00 


6 


30 


13 


17 


23 


9 


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5.68 


10 


21 


11 


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14 




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16.00 


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34 


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5.00 


8 


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5 


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17.50 


4 


18 


11 


7 


16 



"The whole number of scholars attending school, win- 
ter term, 346; summer term, 273. 

"The number who have not attended school is 37 in 
summer, and 36 in winter." 

From the selectmen's report for the same year, the 
following is quoted: 



324 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



DISBURSEMENTS OK SCHOOL MONEY, 1847 



Paid Thomas Gowing for Dis 

" Samuel Davis, Jr., " ' 

" William Caldwell, " ' 

'' Abel Buttrick, " 

" Luther Haselton, " ' 

" Alfred Cummings, " 

" Elias Burns, " 

" Allen Andrews, " 

" John Greeley, " 

" Jonathan Hill, " 



rict No. 1 $48.11 

2 48.11 

3 .... , 38.49 

4 ....•••.. . 48.11 

5 48.11 

6 48.11 

7 38.49 

8 38.49 

9 38.49 

10 38.49 

$433.00 



It appears from the foregoing statistics that the total 
amount of money expended for the year 1847, with 207 
weeks of school for the ten districts, having an attendance 
of 346 pupils, was only $433.00, or an average of little more 
than two dollars per week of school. This was an average 
for each pupil attending school of about #1.25 for the year. 
The amount is very small when compared to the an- 
nual expenditure for the same purpose at the present time. 
For the year 1910 the expense of maintaining the schools 
in Hudson reached the following figures: 

Paid for teachers and superintendent . $2,845.00 
Fuel and incidentals .... 1,200.35 

Music 136.00 

Repairs 62.05 

A total of $4,243.40 

The contrast between the sums expended in 1847 and 
1910 becomes more significant when we understand that 
the number of pupils at the latter time was only 220 com- 
pared to 346, sixty-three years ago. To offset the cost per 
pupil of $1.25 in 1847, in 1910 it was $19.29, an increase of 
$18.04, or a little more than 1400 per cent. 

In 1910 the Hudson school district also paid $1,304.85 
for tuition for pupils attending high school in Nashua and 
other places. 



HISTORY OF THE SCHOOLS 325 

The following table, prepared as accurately as possible 
from statistics found in the annual town reports, shows the 
amount of school money appropriated, the number of schol- 
ars attending schools, average cost per scholar, and average 
number of weeks of school, at intervals of five years from 
1855 to 1910, inclusive. 

School Statistics 

School money Number of schol- Average Average 

ars attending cost per No. weeks 

school scholar of school 

307 $1.97 15.3 

283 2.26 19.6 

250 3.03 No stat. 

235 4.60 19.7 

205 6.90 22.1 
180 8.00 24.2 
188 8.06 30. 

206 8.99 30. 
204 10.87 30. 
203 12.81 28. 
208 16.28 32. 
220 19.29 33. 

Town School System 

At the annual town meeting, March 10, 1885, it was 
voted to adopt the town system of schools, whereby the 
ten existing districts were abolished and one district pre- 
vailed for school purposes. 

This was a pioneer movement along this line, and 
Hudson was one of the very few towns of the state to 
adopt this system previous to the passage of the Act by 
the Legislature at the June session, 1885, approved Au- 
gust 13, of the same year. Among the provisions of that 
law were the following stipulations: 



Year 


from town 




and state 


1855 


$604.45 


1860 


639.82 


1865 


757.63 


1870 


1,081.63 


1875 


1,415.03 


1880 


1,439.67 


1885 


1,516.01 


1890 


1,852.79 


1895 


2,218.97 


1900 


2,601.54 


1905 


3,385.93 


1910 


4,243.40 



326 HISTORY OF HUDSON' 

Section 1. The divisions of towns into school districts heretofore ex- 
isting is hereby abolished, and each town shall hereafter constitute a sin- 
gle district for school purposes; provided however that districts organized 
under special acts of the legislature may retain their present organization. 

Section 4. The duties heretofore devolving upon superintending and 
prudential committees shall hereafter be performed by a school board of 
three persons in each town, to be chosen by ballot at the annual school 
meeting, and to hold office for three years; provided however, that at the 
first election under the act, one person shall be chosen for three years, 
one for two years, and one person for one year, and thereafter one person 
shall be chosen each year. 

It proved that there were those in Hudson opposed to 
the change in the system, so at an adjourned meeting held 
March 17, 1885, action was taken to reconsider the vote of 
the town passed to adopt the town system of schools. 
Seventy votes were recorded in favor and seventy-five 
against a reconsideration. A school board was chosen at 
this meeting consisting of the following members: Kimball 
Webster, for one year; David O. Smith, for two years; 
Daniel Gage, for three years. 

One of the principal advantages claimed by the advo- 
cates of the town system over the old district system was 
the consolidation of schools, some of which had become 
very small, containing not more than seven or eight schol- 
ars each. 

Although consolidation of the schools — wherever the 
same was adopted — met with bitter and determined opposi- 
tion from many citizens, the school board immediately com- 
menced the work for which they were elected, and in 1885, 
the first year under the new system, the ten school dis- 
tricts in Hudson were consolidated so as to form seven, in 
consequence of which the average length of schools under 
the old system of 21.7 weeks was increased to 30 weeks. 

Further consolidation was not practicable until the new 
school buildings were erected in 189(5. Previous to the 
annual school meeting March 17, 1896, the matter of build- 
ing two new school houses — one near the Bridge and the 
other in the vicinity of Hudson Center — was seriously dis- 



HISTORY OF THE SCHOOLS 327 

•cussed by the citizens of those localities, and the matter 
was brought before the annual meeting of the district. A 
committee of seven was chosen to investigate the situation 
and report at an adjourned meeting. During the next four 
weeks the subject met with much earnest discussion, both 
in favor and opposition, by the citizens. 

As the right of suffrage had been granted to women 
in school affairs, they entered as deeply into the discussion 
of the question as the men. The result was, at the ad- 
journed meeting April 14, there was the largest assem- 
blage of voters ever held in the town. Taking both males 
and females there were nearly seven hundred names on the 
list, and a good majority of these were present. The ques- 
tion excited some very animated discussion from both sex- 
es, pro and con, but when a vote was taken it resulted in 
favor of building the new houses. 

A building committee was chosen for each school 
house, and the sum of eight thousand dollars was appropri- 
ated to meet the expense of constructing the buildings. 
Two thousand dollars was to be raised by taxation that 
year, and the balance of six thousand to be hired and paid 
at the rate of two thousand a year. It was also voted to 
locate the house at the Bridge upon the land of William F. 
Chase, on Sanders, now Library street, Mr. Chase gener- 
ously donating a large lot for that purpose. The commit- 
tee on this building was authorized to expend five thou- 
sand dollars on its construction and furnishings. This 
board consisted of George A. Merrill, Willis P. Cummings 
and William F. Chase. 

The second school house was first located on land of 
David Clement at the Center, but later it was decided to 
build on a lot presented to the town by David O. Smith, 
and the committee, consisting of Nathaniel Wentworth, El- 
mer D. Clement and Henry O. Smith, was authorized to 
expend three thousand dollars in building and fitting up 
this house. 

The larger house was to be two stories, with two rooms 
on each floor, and a basement, while the smaller building 



328 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

was to be of one story, with two rooms. The work pro- 
gressed so rapidly that both of these houses were ready for 
occupancy before the close of the year, the Center house 
for the fall term of school and the other for the winter 
term. It was then possible to grade the town schools. 

The school near the Center received the name of the 
Smith School, in honor of Dr. David Onslow Smith, a na- 
tive and life-long resident of the town. Dr. Smith had 
been a successful teacher in his younger years, but studied 
medicine and became a very skillful physician. He ever 
retained his interest in the schools, doing more for them 
in his long life than any other man. He was superintend- 
ing school committee as early as 1862, serving in that ca- 
pacity for many years. When the town system was adopt- 
ed he served as a useful member of the board of education 
for seven years. Whether he was officially connected with 
the schools or not, his interest in them never grew less, 
and he visited them often, assisting them with the benefit 
of his ripe experience and sound judgment. He presented 
the school house that bore his name a fine bell placed in 
the bell tower. Not only in association with the schools, 
but in all walks of public and private life Dr. Smith was an 
honorable and useful citizen. 

The larger school building, situated on Sanders, now 
Library street, received the name of the Webster School, 
in honor of Mr. Kimball Webster, one of the older resi- 
dents of Hudson. 

Mr. Webster placed a bell in the tower of the building, 
and later purchased about 13,000 feet of land on the north 
side of the Webster school lot and gratuitously conveyed 
the same to the school district for the use and benefit of 
this school. 

At the time of the building of the Webster school 
house, the committee was not authorized to finish the 
rooms on the second floor, as it was not deemed necessary 
then. But it soon became evident that the rooms on the 
lower floor were inadequate to accommodate all who should 
attend that school. 



HISTORY OF THE SCHOOLS 329 

Accordingly, at the annual school meeting in 1899, 
March 21, $1,500 was voted to complete the finishing of 
the Webster school building and improve the school lot. 
The committee chosen attended to the duty, and expended 
$1,781.67 in making the improvements, which action was 
accepted by the district. 

A town sewer having been constructed through San- 
ders, now Library, and School streets to the river, in the 
autumn of 1904, at the annual school meeting in March, 
1905, it was voted to furnish the Webster school house 
with a modern sanitary arrangement, which work was com- 
pleted during the spring of that year at an expense of 
$530.34. The grading about the yards having been com- 
pleted and the grounds otherwise made attractive, Hudson 
could well afford to boast of her new school houses and 
point with pride to her school management. 

With the exception of about thirty pupils, living at the 
extreme southern and northern sections of the town, in 
Numbers One and Nine, all of the children in town attend- 
ed the Smith and Webster schools, with the exception of 
the pupils at high schools or academies in other places, and 
whose tuitions are paid by Hudson under Chapter 96 of 
the Session Laws of 1901. The town pays about fourteen 
hundred dollars annually for this purpose. 

The Smith school house, with all its furnishings, was 
consumed by fire on the evening of December 7, 1907. 
The building with its contents was insured for $2,200. 

At the annual school meeting March 17, 1908, the dis- 
trict voted to build a new school house, similar in size to 
the Smith building, with two school rooms, without base- 
ment. The site selected was on the east side of the Pel- 
ham road south-east of Hudson Center, partly on land of 
John Wentworth and partly on land of the heirs of Eli 
Hamblet. Nathaniel Wentworth, Henry C. Brown and 
John A. Robinson were chosen as a building committee. 
Nine hundred dollars was appropriated for the purpose in 
addition to the amount received from insurance. 



330 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

The school lot, which contains more than an acre of 
land, and is an exceptionally fine lot for the purpose, was 
generously donated by its owners — one-half by John Went- 
worth and one-half by Arvilla and Souvina Hamblet. 

The building committee obeyed its instructions, and 
on the 21st of September, 1908, a little more than nine 
months after the destruction of the Smith school house, a 
suitable, well equipped school building had been erected, 
finished and furnished ready for occupancy. 

At the time the Smith building was burned, the bell, 
in falling, was broken, and Henry C. Brown generously 
donated a new one and placed it in the tower of the new 
building. 

That school is now called the Hudson Center school. 



CHAPTER XXVI 

Customs of the Early Settlers 

The early settlers had few of the conveniences and 
comforts that are now considered necessary for the enjoy- 
ment of life. They were mainly dependent upon their 
farms for the supply of their needs, and this was utilized 
by their own labor. Very little food was purchased. Meats 
were obtained from the flesh of the domestic animals raised 
upon the farm, or from the wild creatures that roamed in 
the surrounding forests. Ice for the preservation of these 
and other articles of food was not thought of in those days. 
Often portions of the animal slaughtered were loaned to 
neighbors, who repaid the debt when they replenished their 
larder with similar products. By this co-operation families 
in a neighborhood were able to have a supply of fresh meat 
at almost all times. 

Such portions as were not suitable to be eaten fresh 
were salted, and in this manner kept for several months. 
Every family had its beef and pork barrels, which were 
usually filled in the fall or early winter, as a supply for the 
following summer. 

In the spring, during the fishing season, when shad 
and alewives ascended the Merrimack in immense num- 
bers, many families salted one or two barrels of catches 
of these fish, for summer consumption. Lamprey eels also 
added to the summer store. 

Fire-places 

The chimneys in nearly all the houses built before 
1830, were very large, and thus occupied a great amount 
of space in the center of the dwelling, standing so that 
there were fire-places upon at least three sides. These re- 
ceptacles for heating and cooking purposes were made of 
331 



332 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

sufficient capacity to take in wood in four-foot lengths, 
often even greater length than that. In the winter a back- 
log, a foot or more in diameter, was placed across the huge 
and-irons at the extreme rear, while a huge forestick was 
placed in front. The space between these was filled with 
smaller and lighter wood, and a hot fire resulted as soon as 
these sticks had become enveloped in the fiery folds. Not 
only did this fire warm the room, but gave it a cheerful ap- 
pearance, as well as making it comfortable. Very often a 
bar of iron was used for a forestick, especially in warm 
weather. 

The houses were not made very tight, and good venti- 
lation was obtained by the constant current of air passing 
up the wide-mouthed chimney. 

A long seat made of boards, with a high back as a pro- 
tection from the wind, was placed before the fire for the 
convenience of the family at eventide. This piece of rough 
furniture was known as "the settle." In sitting before one 
of these open fires, when the weather was cold and the 
winter wind was whirling the snow in great winding sheets, 
the backs of those not occupying one of these wide seats 
would be shivering while their faces would be almost blis- 
tered. 

When the hour for retiring came, so much of the fire 
as remained was carefully covered with ashes, so that the 
coals would keep all night, and in the morning they had 
only to be raked apart, when a new supply of wood thrown 
upon them would be quickly ignited and the fire for the 
day was begun. This task was called "raking up the fire." 

In this way fire was seldom lost in cold weather, but 
in the summer it frequently happened that the coals got so 
low that they could not be restored. Many families had 
what was called a "tinder box," with steel and flint, with 
which they would strike fire so the tinder would ignite. 
Home-made matches, which were made by being dipped in 
melted brimstone, were set on fire by touching them to the 
burning tinder. By this slow process a fire was started. 



CUSTOMS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS 333 

Sometimes a fire was kindled by flashing powder in the 
pan of a flint-lock musket, with tow held within radius of 
the sparks thus made. Friction matches did not come into 
general use until about 1836. As strange as it may seem 
now they were received with considerable distrust for a 
time. 

Old-time Cooking 

The cooking was done over and before an open fire, 
except when the brick oven was used. In the open-fire 
cooking boiling was accomplished by suspending kettles 
with hooks, which were hung upon the iron crane, or arm, 
with which every fire-place was provided. These hooks 
were of different lengths, so as to admit of the kettles be- 
ing held higher or lower as might be necessary. An ad- 
justable hook, which was called a "trammel," was found 
upon almost every crane. In early times meat and poultry 
were often cooked by being suspended by a cord before the 
fire. One end of this cord was attached to the wooden pin 
overhead, the object to be cooked fastened to the other 
end. A dish was set underneath to catch the drip. The 
cord was then twisted, until upon being released it would 
unwind, and by the momentum thus gained it would rewind 
itself, in which manner the different sides of the meat 
would be alternately presented to the fire. But finally the 
cord would cease to move and at length would become sta- 
tionary, when someone must be on hand to give it another 
twist, so it would again be set in motion. Meats roasted 
before an open fire in this manner were very fine. 

Later meats and poultry were roasted in a tin kitchen 
of cylindrical form, about two feet in length and fifteen 
inches in diameter, open in front and provided with a spit. 
The meat was placed upon the spit arranged so that one 
end passed through a hole made for the purpose, while the 
other was passed through a slot upon the opposite side. 
In this way the meat was suspended in the center of the 
inclosed space. When prepared the kitchen was placed 



334 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

before the fire, the bright surface of the tin inside reflect- 
ing the heat powerfully upon the meat that was being 
cooked. Upon one end of the spit was a small crank 
which could be used to turn the roast or to hold it in any 
position desired. By careful attention the cooking would 
be done evenly on all sides. 

There was a door in the back side which could be 
opened to allow of the basting of the meat. The gravy 
went into the bottom where there was a small spout at one 
end. By tipping, this could be turned out into a dish. 

Potatoes, and sometimes eggs, were roasted by placing 
them in the hot ashes and covering them with coals. Po- 
tatoes cooked in this way were much better than if boiled. 

The brick oven, located at the right of the fire-place in 
the kitchen, was in nearly every house. These ovens were 
quite large, and in most families were heated once and 
sometimes twice a week. For heating the oven well-sea- 
soned pine wood was considered necessary. Beans, Indian 
puddings, brown bread and sometimes meats, pies and 
other articles of food were cooked in these ovens. 

For a time the Dutch oven was used in many families 
for cooking bread and many other things. This was a flat, 
cast-iron kettle four or five inches deep, with a cover of 
the same material. It stood upon legs two or three inches 
high, and the cover, which rounded up in the center, had a 
rim on the outside about one and one-half inches high. 
When the dish was prepared for cooking the oven was 
placed upon a bed of live hard-wood coals, and the cover 
filled with the same. These coals could be replenished as 
often as was necessary. It was sometimes used for frying. 

Before cooking stoves came into use, bread, pies, etc., 
were baked in front of the fire in a tin baker. This was 
made of the same kind of tin as the "kitchen," and it was 
about twenty inches in length, the bottom a foot wide, in- 
clining forward considerably, and set on legs. It had a 
perpendicular back four or five inches wide; the top was 
adjustable and slanted upward. It had a sheet-iron bake 



CUSTOMS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS 335 

pan suspended between the top and bottom. When the 
baker was set before the fire, at a suitable distance, the 
very bright surface of the tin had the same effect as in the 
case of the tin kitchen. This kitchen and baker came into 
use about 1830. 

A simpler mode of baking was frequently resorted to 
when rye cakes, Indian bannocks, or other thin cakes, were 
spread an inch or more in thickness upon a trencher or 
hard wood board kept for the purpose, and these plain 
plates were placed before the fire on an incline as steep as 
the objects baking would allow. 

Stoves were made, in limited numbers, in the last quar- 
ter of the 18th century, but did not come into general use 
until many years later. Box stoves for heating school 
rooms and churches came into use about 1820. Previous 
to that time school rooms were warmed by open fires, while 
meeting-houses were not warmed at all. The only fire in 
the churches at that time was carried in foot stoves by 
women. Cooking stoves began to be used as early as 1830, 
but did not come into general use until ten years later. 

The first cooking stove was very simple in construc- 
tion, and insufficient in operation, as compared with our 
modern cooking ranges. 

The Franklin fire-place was invented by Benjamin 
Franklin. It was made of iron and set out into the room, 
and was connected to the chimney by a funnel about a foot 
in diameter. The frame was ornamented with brass. It 
had a large iron hearth, on which an open fire was kept. 
As it was all within the room less of the heat escaped by 
the chimney than did by the fire-place. In other respects 
it was not radically different in its results from the fire- 
place. 

Middle Names 

The custom for individuals to have middle names, now 
nearly universal, was almost unknown among the early 



336 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

settlers. The first instance found in the Hudson records 
where a child was thus distinguished was that of the son 
of William and Sarah (Harwood) Cummings, when they 
christened their third child John Harwood Cummings, giv- 
ing him his mother's sirname. This child was born April 
24, 1733. Other examples were Ephraim Chandler Chase, 
son of Stephen L. and Phebe (Chandler) Chase, born Au- 
gust 28, 1758; Phineas Wheeler Blodgett, son of Joseph 
and Dorcas (Wheeler) Blodgett, born October 9, 1761; 
Benjamin Durant Chase, son of Moses and Elizabeth 
(Hamblett) Chase, born April 13, 1769; Caleb Swan Ford, 
son of James and Sarah Ford, born December 19, 1775; 
Daniel Taylor Davis, son of Asa and Elizabeth (Cummings) 
Davis, born December 5, 1776; and Thomas Boyd Wason, 
son of Thomas and Mary (Boyd) Wason, born November 
2, 1785. It will be noticed that usually the child was given 
for a middle name the sirname of the mother. 

In 1800 but seven double names appear upon the list 
of taxes; in 1812, twelve; and in 1830 the number of per- 
sons with a middle name had increased to twenty-seven in 
a list of 280 names. 

First Shoemakers 

It was an early practice among the settlers to tan the 
skins of the animals killed on the farm for use in making 
custom boots for the men and shoes for the women and 
children. The process required a year's time to accomplish 
the tanning, but most excellent quality of leather was ob- 
tained, which after being made into shoes for men, women 
and children, while not so fine looking as the modern foot- 
wear, was more serviceable. 

Itinerant shoemakers, going about the country making 
up shoes for different families, were quite common, plan- 
ning so as to call on the families that patronized them about 
once a year. They would often stop a week at a place, 
boarding with the family for whom they were working, and 



CUSTOMS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS 337 

when their job was done here they would shoulder their kit 
and move on to the next family needing their work. 

The first shoemaker to settle in this town of whom we 
have any record was Thomas Marsh, who lived here as 
early as 1741. Top boots were not much worn until after 
the beginning of the 19th century, and leggins or buskins 
were worn over the shoes to keep the snow out. They 
were knit and reached nearly to the knees, being widened 
at the lower end so as to fit over the upper part of the 
shoe. They were tied on firmly with leather strings, one 
passing under the instep and the other over it. 

All footwear was sewed by hand, until the beginning 
of the 19th century, when pegged boots and shoes were in- 
troduced. They were unpopular for a while. 

Economy had to be practiced, and in no way more 
than in foot-wear. Nearly all the young people and many 
of the older ones went bare-foot from about the first of 
April to the coming of cold weather in November. Fre- 
quently the young people, and older ones too, would carry 
their shoes in their hands in going to church on Sunday, 
stopping just before reaching the meeting-house and put- 
ting them on. In this manner pride and economy were 
both satisfied. 

Homespun Clothes 

Clothing was made from flax and wool produced on 
the farm. Most of the women of that day were capable of 
taking the wool as it came from the sheep, cleansing, card- 
ing, spinning it into yarn, and weaving it into cloth, and 
then making this product into clothes for the family. The 
carding was done with hand cards until the invention and 
introduction of carding by machinery moved by water pow- 
er. The rolls that came from these mills were spun into 
yarn upon hand spinning wheels. The yarn was woven 
into cloth by the hand loom, which was a large, heavy af- 
fair, and occupied the larger part of a good-sized room. 



338 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

The yarn which went lengthwise of the cloth was called 
the warp, and had to be drawn into the harness by hand; 
that which went the other way was called the woof, weft 
or filling, and came from the shuttle. The yarn used in 
the shuttle was first wound upon quills about three inches 
in length, which were made from pieces of elder with the pith 
punched out, leaving it hollow. The yarn was wound upon 
these by a "quill wheel," which was a noisy machine. 

The winding of the yarn upon the quills was often 
done by the larger girls, while the woman of the house was 
weaving. This last was hard work, and five or six yards 
were considered a fair day's work. Cotton was sometimes 
bought and manufactured in about the same way. 

Yarn intended for knitting was generally colored, 
either in the wool or after the spinning. The dye pot, 
made of brown earthern ware, with a piece of board for a 
cover, usually had its place in the chimney corner, just 
inside the fire-place. The dye was made of indigo dis- 
solved in urine. The yarn to be colored was put into this 
liquid where it was allowed to remain for several days, or 
until it was thoroughly colored. Butternut bark, maple 
bark, and many other things were used for coloring. 

The cloth for men's clothes was called "fulled cloth." 
After it was woven it was taken to the clothier at a "fulling 
mill," where it was fulled, dyed, sheared and pressed. That 
worn by women was simply dyed and pressed and was 
called "pressed cloth." 

Baize, a coarse, woolen cloth with a long nap, dyed in 
plain colors, was woven for women's use. Some of the 
women wove very elaborate and handsome bed spreads, 
who showed much skill and ingenuity in designing and 
making the figures upon them. 

Flax was also a product of almost every farm. In the 
fall it was pulled and placed upon the ground where it re- 
mained exposed to the weather for several weeks, until the 
woody parts were rotted and the fibre had become pliable. 
Then it was broken by an implement called a flax brake, 



CUSTOMS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS 339 

which broke the woody part into short pieces. It was then 
"swingled," which was done by beating it with a hard wood 
paddle about thirty inches in length, called a "swingling 
knife." This separated the fibre from the useless parts. 

The next process was to draw it repeatedly over the 
"flax comb," which was made by setting about eighty steel 
spikes, seven or eight inches in length, and made very 
sharp, into a hardwood plank. The combing took out all 
of the small pieces of the woody parts that had been left 
after the swingling. This removed also the short sections 
of fibre, which was tow, and was sometimes spun into 
wrapping twine. 

After the flax had been combed and suitably prepared, 
it was put upon the distaff and spun with the linen wheel, 
operated by the foot resting upon the treadle. This wheel 
was about twenty inches in diameter and had two grooves 
in the outer rim, one for a band to drive the fliers and the 
other to drive the spool with a quicker motion to take up 
the thread. 

Linen was woven into cloth and made into table cov- 
ers, dresses, shirts, sheets, handkerchiefs, strainer cloth 
and many other useful articles. Thread for sewing shoes 
was also made from linen. In warm weather men and boys 
worn linen clothing. 

Cider Mills 

Many of the farms had a cider mill, where the apples, 
mostly natural fruit of poor quality, were made into cider. 
Cider made from apple juice and fermented was a common 
drink in almost all families, and was among the furnishings 
of the table at meal times. A jug of cider was often car- 
ried into the field as the beverage for the day. Cider, after 
it had been drawn from the barrel and had become warm, 
was considered unfit to drink, so the economical farmer 
turned this into the vinegar barrel to help replenish that. 

The cider mill in those days, until as late as 1850, was 
usually turned to grind the apples by horse power, after 



340 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

which many of the saw mills run by water power had an 
outfit for making cider, where the neighbors would take 
their apples, and return home with three or four barrels of 
the pure juice obtained from a cart full of the fruit. These 
places were great retreats for boys, who delighted to suck 
the sweet liquid through straws. 

Lights and Lamps 

The tallow candle was the principal dependence for 
artificial light in those days. The blazing open fire in the 
fire-place aided in this direction, and frequently was the 
sole dependence. This gave a certain cheerful, hospitable 
appearance to a room that cannot be obtained from any 
other means of lighting, not even including the bright elec- 
tric light of to-day. 

The candles were usually called "dips," this term de- 
rived from the way they were made. The material from 
which the candles were prepared was obtained from the 
fatty portions of the creatures killed on the farm, which 
were carefully saved for that purpose. The fat was tried 
out or rendered by heating over the fire. The liquid tallow 
thus obtained was cooled in kettles or pans and kept for 
use when needed. To make the candles this tallow was 
melted in a large kettle. Wicking made of cotton was cut 
into lengths about twice that of the candle to be made, and 
was then doubled over a stick made for that purpose, 
and these lines twisted loosely together. The sticks or 
supports for the wicking were about two feet in length and 
three-eighths of an inch in diameter. One-half dozen of 
these wicks were placed on each stick at an equal distance 
apart Two long side-poles or supports were placed at a 
sufficient space to allow the hanging crosswise of the small 
rod with the row of wicks. Then enough of these last 
were arranged to make the required number of candles. 
These preliminaries arranged, the person who was to dip 
the candles would take the first rod with its suspended 
wicks and dip it into the hot tallow until the liquid came 



CUSTOMS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS 341 

nearly to the rod in his hand. The dripping row would 
then be restored to its position, the next line served in the 
same way, and so on until the entire length had been made. 
Then he would start back with the first one, and go over 
the same course again, the tallow that had attached itself 
to the wick having cooled by this time. This process was 
continued until sufficient tallow had adhered to make the 
candle of the required size. 

While the candles were being dipped it was necessary 
to have them suspended in a position where a cool draft of 
air would circulate and thus cause them to oool quickly. 
The dipping of them into the hot tallow had to be done 
rapidly or more tallow would be melted away than would 
be taken up by the performance. As fast as the tallow in 
the kettle was taken out by this process so as to become 
of insufficient depth to take the whole length of the candle, 
hot water would be poured into the vessel, when the tallow 
would rise on top, and the work could go on until only a 
a thin layer of tallow was left floating on the water. As 
simple as this may appear it really required considerable 
skill and experience to "dip" candles successfully. This 
work was usually done by the women. 

While it answered a purpose, the tallow candle made 
a poor light, and was unsatisfactory in many respects. It 
smoked and flickered, and required frequent "snuffing," or 
cutting away the burned section of the wick. If this was 
not done the burned portion of the wick would fall over 
and melt into the top of the candle causing the tallow to 
run down on the side and so drop upon the table. To clip 
off this burnt section of the wick a little instrument that 
was operated something like scissors was made, with a re- 
ceptacle at the top to hold the portion of wick snipped off. 
This article was called "snuffers," and this outfit was made 
complete by a little tray which sat on the table near the 
candle-stick to receive the discarded portions of wick. 

A more primitive way of snuffing the candle was by 
pinching off the end with the fingers, but this had to be 



342 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

done quickly and dextrously or burned fingers would be 
the result. 

Finally an improvement was devised in the making of 
candles by having a mould, a hollow tin receptacle of the 
correct size for a candle. The wick would be placed in the 
center of this and the tube filled with tallow. When this 
had cooled, a candle, smoother and better than one made 
by the old method, was obtained. 

Many kinds of candle-sticks were in use, made of 
brass, tin, iron, glass or even wood. Some were highly 
ornamented, while, as it may be supposed, others were ex- 
tremely plain. Even potatoes and turnips, or some other 
substance that would afford a footing for the candle to 
stand upon, were pressed into service occasionally. 

Eventually whale oil was introduced as a lighting 
fluid, and this was considered a great improvement over 
the tallow dip. But there were disagreeable features about 
this. When allowed to stand too long in the lamp it gave 
out an offensive odor, and the outside would be covered 
with the oil. The wicks required even more frequent at- 
tention than the candle, and they did not light quickly. 
Neither was the light very much brighter than that of the 
well-trimmed candle. 

Several other kinds of oil were used to more or less 
extent, but did not come into general use. 

A lighting fluid that was to displace all of these others 
was on the way. This was kerosene, which began to be 
used as early as 1858. This was first obtained from the 
distillation of mineral wax, bituminous shale, coal, etc., and 
hence was also called coal oil. It sold at first for $1.50 a 
gallon. A few years later it was made by the distillation 
and purification of petroleum in immense quantities and 
came into general use for lighting purposes. It has some- 
times sold at retail as low as ten cents a gallon. 



customs of the early settlers 343 

Soap Making 

Almost every family fifty years and less ago made 
their own soap, known as "soft soap," as it was in liquid 
form though very thick. All the good hard wood ashes 
made during the year were saved and stored in a dry place. 
All the refuse portions of fat and grease were carefully 
laid aside for use at the same time. This soap making took 
place in the spring as soon as the snow had melted away, 
or late in the fall, and it was generally considered to be- 
long to the duties of the good housewife, and it was no easy 
work that she had on hand. The ashes were placed in a 
large tub kept for the purpose, or quite often the half of a 
molasses hogshead, which had been sawed in two at the 
middle by the farmer. This was called "the leach," and 
sticks and brushwood or straw had been strewn over the 
bottom, in order to give the liquid that was to form the lye 
a chance to run out. Water was brought from some near- 
by spring or from the well, and poured into the cask hold- 
ing the ashes. After the ashes had become completely 
saturated with water the lye would be drawn out at the 
bottom. The lye was tested as to strength by placing a 
fresh Qgg in it. If the egg floated on its surface the lye 
was of sufficient strength to make a good quality of soap, 
and good luck was assured. 

The soap grease, with sufficient lye, was placed in a 
large kettle and boiled together, and when it was taken out 
if it did not separate it was good soap. When, after boil, 
ing, the lye and grease separated, it was due to using poor 
ashes and weak lye. Sometimes potash was put into the 
lye to strengthen it. 

Soap making was a hard job for the women, and was 
dreaded as much as any undertaking during the year. It 
usually preceded the spring cleaning. 



344 HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Modes of Travel 

In the early times the roads were commonly in poor 
repair, bridges and culverts were lacking on many of the 
streams, and but few carriages were owned in town. Peo- 
ple generally rode on horseback. Often the man rode in 
the saddle and the woman on the pillion behind him. To 
make it an easier matter to mount and dismount, horse 
blocks of wood or stone were used at the church and other 
places. 

Small articles were carried in saddle-bags, balanced, 
one on each side of the horse. Grain was carried to mill 
in bags laid over the horse's back, so divided that one-half 
rested in each end. In fact, nearly all of the light carrying 
had to be done on horseback until wagons became common. 

Snow-shoes were in common use among the men, in 
traversing the country, hunting or performing winter jour- 
neys when the snow was deep. It was not infrequent that 
women wore them. 

Snow-shoes were made of a light piece of wood, com- 
monly ash, bent into an elongated curve, egg shaped, about 
three feet long and a foot wide at the greatest width. The 
ends met so as to form a sort of handle. About three inch- 
es from each end of the curved bow was a thin, flat piece 
of wood; this was connected with the sides and a strong 
elastic network of leather strings woven in. This leather 
netting made a surface which held up the wearer, the snow- 
show being fastened to the feet by means of stout strings 
running to the sides and over the instep and around the 
heel. The real fastening was at the toe, so that in walking 
the forward end of the snow-shoe would be lifted, while the 
rear end would drag on the snow. The material of which 
it was made being very light the snow-shoe was not bur- 
densome, and the elastic network gave such a springy ef- 
fect to the step that it not only prevented the person from 
sinking into the most fluffy mass to any depth, but it en- 



CUSTOMS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS 345 

abled him to advance at even greater speed than he could 
have walked on the solid ground and with less weariness. 

Snow-shoes were much worn by the Indians, who were 
adept in making them, and it is supposed the early white 
settlers got the idea from them. They are yet worn 
extensively in Canada and the British provinces where the 
winters are long and snow falls to a great depth. 

Bean Porridge 

A favorite dish among the pioneers, and frequently 
seen upon their tables in cold weather, was bean porridge. 
In winter times it was made in large quantities. First a 
piece of corned beef was cooked and into the broth of this 
was put white beans, with a thickening of Indian meal, the 
whole properly seasoned and allowed to cook a long time. 
This really made a very palatable dish, and left in the ket- 
tle to be warmed over and over, from day to day, until the 
last of it had been eaten, it was believed to improve in 
quality, hence the old time saw that was very popular: 

Bean porridge hot; 
Bean porridge cold ; 
Bean porridge best 
When nine days old. 

Farm Tools 

Some of the farming tools were very crude, clumsy 
and heavy. Before iron shovels came into use a rude im- 
plement to take their place was fashioned out of a piece of 
oak plank, sharpened at one edge and this shod with iron. 
These were called "shod shovels," and were in common 
use until the beginning of the 19th century. Of course 
they were heavy and clumsy. Hay and manure forks were 
made of iron by the blacksmith. They had large tines, 
either round or flat, and bent easily, and were apt to be- 
come loose in the handle. Cast steel forks did not come 
into general use until 1837. Hoes were also made by the 



346 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

blacksmith and were on a par with the iron forks. The 
eye to receive the handle was welded or riveted on. A 
strip of steel was welded on the cutting edge. Some of 
the blacksmiths made scythes, axes, knives, and many 
other implements used on the farm. 

Clocks 

Clocks were not in general use until after 1820, the 
time of day often being noted by marks on the window ledge 
or the front door. There were in some of the more wealthy 
families the tall, old-fashioned clock since known as 
"Grandfather's clock," which frequently stood in the hall- 
way. The face of this was usually ornamented with some 
bright pictures, and its bell had a resonant ring, so that 
when it tolled forth the hours it could be heard in all parts 
of the house. These clocks are now considered valuable 
as heirlooms. They were seven feet in height, and reached 
from floor to ceiling. Some of them were originally quite 
expensive, having been imported from England. They 
were in mahogany cases, had brass movements, of hand- 
some design, with inlaid faces upon which the day of the 
month and phases of the moon were shown, as well as the 
hour and minutes and seconds of time. The cost was from 
fifty to one hundred dollars, and sometimes higher than 
this last figure. 

About 1800 manufacturers in this country began to 
make clocks, and they gradually became common in the 
families. Many had wooden running gear, but kept very 
accurate time, and were not as expensive as the English 
clocks. During these periods watches were too expensive 
to be very common. 

In almost every home were one or more noon marks, 
and some had sun dials before clocks came into common 
use. In fair weather, by means of these devices, time could 
be computed with considerable accuracy; but at night time 
or on stormy days or cloudy weather these failed, and the 



CUSTOMS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS 347 

families were left to calculate the time as best they could 
by their judgment as to the swiftness of the passing hours. 
The sun, the stars and the planets were also guides to 
those versed in the knowledge of astronomy. 

Sheep Washing 

About the first of June came the annual sheep wash- 
ing, when the creatures laden with their winter's growth of 
wool were driven to some convenient pond or stream of 
clear water, not less than three feet deep, and given a thor- 
ough wetting and scrubbing. This task was frequently 
turned over to the large boys, who rather delighted in the 
performance. The sheep about to be given this washing 
was seized, carried bodily into the water, and being careful 
to keep the head above the water, the animal was soused 
up and down until quite clean. The wool was squeezed be- 
tween the hands, until thoroughly washed, and the water 
passing through became clear. Running water was con- 
sidered better for the purpose than that in a pond which 
was still. 

The sheep were then turned into the pasture for the 
wool to become dry before being sheared. A large fleece 
of wool on the sheep before being washed contained an in- 
credibly large quantity of dirt. When sold the washed 
wool brought a much higher price than the unwashed of 
the same quality. 

Roots and Herbs 

It was the custom with most families to gather and lay 
up a stock of roots and herbs for the family use in medic- 
inal purposes. Sage, catnip, pennyroyal, thoroughwort, 
spearmint, tansy, wormwood, snake root, cherry bark, pip- 
sissewa, elder blossoms, and many other roots and herbs 
were among those selected. Many of the aged women, who 
had reared large families, were skillful in the use of these 
simple remedies, and they were often called in cases of 



348 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

sickness instead of employing a doctor. These herbs, 
while generally effective, were not harmful in the influ- 
ence upon the general health of the person. Most of the 
herbs were gathered when in bloom, and were tied in small 
bunches and suspended from the rafters in the attic to dry 
and keep in good condition. A pleasant aromatic odor was 
thus created in the upper part of the house. This practice 
of laying in a stock of nature's remedies by the household 
began to wane more than fifty years ago, and to-day very 
few, if any, follow up the practice, preferring to send to the 
druggist for the extract of the plant they wish to use. 

The Open Well 

Naturally the first supplies of water for the settlers 
were procured from some spring or clear-running brook. 
The favorite place was carefully cleared of all rubbish, such 
as broken-down branches of trees and dead leaves, when 
pure, limpid water was easily secured. But these fountains 
were not always convenient to the housewife, who had 
usually to bring the supply of water, and again they would 
become more or less contaminated as the settlements in- 
creased. No one had thought of arranging to have water 
running into their sinks. In order to save much of the labor 
in bringing the water from long distances, in some cases, 
it became the custom to dig wells near the house. This 
was a decided improvement over the old way, and as the 
water could not be dipped from wells, that were frequently 
of considerable depth, a contrivance known as the well- 
sweep was devised. This consisted of a large post with a 
crotch at the upper end, to receive a long, stout pole fas- 
tened with a sort of hinge about midway in its length. The 
post was firmly set in the ground about fifteen or eighteen 
feet from the well, and it was the rule that this should 
stand above the ground to a height two-thirds as great as 
the depth of the well. The arm or well-sweep was nicely 
balanced and held in place by an iron or wooden pin secur- 



CUSTOMS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS 349 

ing it at the top of the post. Then the heavy end was 
loaded with rocks sufficient to lift the bucket attached to 
the opposite end, when the vessel, filled with the sparkling 
water, should be raised from the well. This bucket 
was fastened to a slender pole, long enough to reach 
from the curb to the surface or even bottom of the water 
in the well. Of course the upper end of this small pole 
was attached to the small end of the sweep. Though 
apparently a primitive affair, this old-fashioned well-sweep 
worked very nicely, and it was a comparatively easy task 
to raise the large wooden vessel made by the local cooper 
from the innermost recess of the well to the top of the rude 
curbing. The poet saw the rare exhilaration of this scene 
and immortalized it in his song, "The old oaken bucket, 
the iron-bound bucket, the moss-covered bucket," as it rose 
brimming and tempting from the well. Had he chosen to 
picture to us some rustic maid at her morning task of 
bringing the water for the breakfast table, he might have 
outrivaled Whittier's delineation of Maud Muller "raking 
the meadow sweet with hay." 

Eventually pumps made from white pine logs cut upon 
the farm, and drilled with huge augers so as to form a hol- 
low stem, were utilized for the purpose of drawing water. 
Ready made pumps are too modern to need description, 
having been sold upon the market since about 1850. Some 
farmers installed what was known as "the chain pump." 
This was worked by a crank and windlass, over which an 
endless chain passed. This chain, with metal buckets at- 
tached within eighteen inches of each other, worked 
through a wooden tube which rested upon a support near 
the bottom of the well, where the chain passed beneath a 
small pulley. By means of the crank being turned and the 
chain put in motion water was forced up through the tube 
to the surface. Chain pumps were common soon after 
1850. 



350 HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Sugar Making 

Sugar was not used in such large quantities as it is to- 
day, and it cost much more than at the present time. A 
pound of sugar was worth about the same as a pound of 
butter, and was often bartered one for the other at the 
country store. Brown sugars of different shades were gen- 
erally used on the table and also for cooking. But the 
common sweetening was West India molasses. 

In some localities sugar from the rock maple sap was 
made to a considerable extent, but in this town there were 
but a few sugar maples. 

Light-brown sugar was supposed to contain the least 
dirt and was in the greatest favor. The Havana, which 
came in large boxes containing about five hundred pounds, 
was called the sweetest. White sugar was but little used, 
and that came in cone-shaped loaves weighing twenty-five 
pounds each. These were wrapped in strong paper of a 
dark-blue color. The loaf was crushed and prepared for 
use by means of a hammer and a large, strong knife. La- 
ter this sugar came crushed into irregular shapes and small 
pieces before offered for trade, and was known as "crushed 
sugar." 

Refined and granulated sugar began to be used soon 
after 1850, but did not come into general use for a decade 
later. The retail price of white sugar was about ten cents 
a pound, and brown sugar sold for from six to eight cents 
a pound, the lightest colored being the highest in price. 
During the Civil War sugar was very high, sometimes sell- 
ing three pounds for a dollar. 

Wheat Flour 

Wheat flour was not sold much in barrels until after 
the beginning of the 19th century, and was not much used 
in most families until many years later. The majority of 
farmers raised more or less wheat, which they had ground 



CUSTOMS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS 351 

and bolted at some grist-mill. This made a sweet, but 
dark-colored bread. Rye was also treated in this way and 
made into flour. Still very little bread was made from 
flour for many years. It was made from rye and Indian 
meal mixed and called "brown bread." Bread was also 
made from rye, wheat, and Indian meal, and sometimes 
barley. The miller was paid for grinding these grains by 
taking "toll," as it was called, from the grist. This amount 
was fixed by law or custom, and he was entitled to one- 
sixteenth, or two quarts from every bushel. 

Finally, when Central New York state had become 
developed by the settlers, wheat was brought here in bar- 
rels from Western New York, and called Genesee flour. 
These barrels were easily distinguished from those that 
came later from Ohio by being hooped with flat hoops, 
while the latter were round, being really half round, having 
been made from small poles split in twain. As the inhabi- 
tants pushed westward, flour for New England came far- 
ther and farther from that direction, until St. Louis flour 
became common here. Flour in those days was in some re- 
spects much inferior to that of the present time, when the 
roller process and other improved methods are employed in 
its preparation. 

Spirituous Liquors 

During the first settlements and for many years after- 
wards the use of spirituous liquors was almost universal by 
all classes of people. Occasions on which people assem- 
bled in numbers were not considered fully satisfactory un- 
less liberal quantities of liquor were provided. It was so 
at raisings, ordinations, funerals, weddings, log-rollings, and 
so on, without distinction as to the class; a good supply of 
New England rum, or some other strong drink, was always 
supplied and expected. Even the devout minister, who was 
supposed to be very near perfection, when he made his pas- 
toral calls upon his parishioners, would have felt slighted if 



352 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

something of that nature had not been placed before him, 
as he seldom refused to partake. 

Temperance societies on the total abstinence plan were 
organized in the early part of the 19th century, and as early 
as 1840 the Washingtonian movement swept over New 
England. It required the signing of a pledge to abstain 
from the use of all intoxicating beverages. This created 
considerable excitement at the time, and earnest workers 
entered the field. 

Tramps 

In recent years we have come to know something of 
the tramp, the idler who goes about the country seeking to 
get his living without working, and frequently making him- 
self an object of dislike and dread. Before these appeared 
on the stage of action, there was an aimless class of strag- 
glers wandering up and down the country, seldom begging 
yet ever expecting enough of food to satisfy the inner man, 
and, when their clothes became too ragged, an old coat or 
other garment with which to replace their own, which at 
some time had been given them by another pitying person. 

These outcasts were often old men, who, in some 
cases, had been too shiftless to lay by money for future 
use, or unfortunate, and thus had become footballs of for- 
tune, who wandered from one town to another, seeking 
alms at the houses they passed, and sleeping at night in 
barns or outbuildings. Most of them were fond of cider, 
and this in some cases explained their pitiable condition. 
Though generally harmless, occasionally they frightened 
the women and children on account of their uncouth ap- 
pearance. In fact, some of them were mildly insane. The 
majority of them were paupers who would remain at the 
almshouse during the winter, but when warm weather came 
on would start on their periodical trips over the country, 
trusting to the generosity of the farmers to get their living. 
Usually, older men than the modern tramp, they were more 



CUSTOMS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS 353 

deserving of pity and help. Among these homeless wan- 
derers was occasionally a woman, who had seen brighter 
and better days. 

Social Ways 

In the days of our forefathers, a century or more ago, 
the people were much more social than are neighbors at 
the present time. This may have been due partly to the 
fact that they were more dependent upon each other. At 
that time books and magazines and even newspapers were 
scarce, so local topics became the news of the day. In the 
absence of reading matter and other means of amusement 
so common to-day, the neighbors, at the close of the day's 
work, would visit each other's homes, where all of the latest 
gossip would be threshed out over a mug of cider and a 
dish of apples. Here the prospect of the crops was dis- 
cussed and the plans for the next quilting bee talked over 
by the older members, while the younger ones played check- 
ers and other games, cracked nuts and laughed in merry 
glee over some joke or good story. Altogether these occa- 
sions were pleasant and served to bind the people in closer 
ties of friendliness. 

Afternoon visits were of frequent occurrence, when 
the women would take their sewing or knitting work with 
them, and perhaps accomplish nearly as much as they 
would if they had stayed at home, besides having a pleas- 
ant chat. The inhabitants of the rural districts are much 
better educated than in those days, but are less hospitable 
and neighborly. 

Breaking Roads 

Always after a heavy snowstorm, which would block 
the roads with drifted snow, so as to make traveling by 
single teams difficult, if not impossible, the roads were 
broken out and made passable. On these occasions the 
farmers would get together with their ox-teams, improving 



354 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

the opportunity to yoke up whatever unbroken steers they 
might have as a good time to "break them in," with their 
first lesson in work. Sometimes as many as ten or more 
yoke of cattle would thus be hitched to a sled. A log would 
sometimes be fastened crosswise under the forward end of 
the sled, or a plow or log to the side — perhaps both — a doz- 
en or more of the old men would stand upon the sled, the 
younger men and boys would start the long team and away 
the whole string would go, at times hidden by the snow- 
clouds they would send into the air as they plowed their 
way through great masses of snow. It was jolly fun for 
the boys, but men, oxen, boys and steers would come home 
tired and glad it was over, though just as eager for the 
merry work when another old-fashioned snowstorm would 
follow. 

Sometimes the drifts were too solid for the cattle to 
trample down and too steep to climb over, when men with 
shovels would cut a channel through those places. It has 
happened that the snow would be piled so high and solid 
that a pathway would be tunneled through like an under- 
ground railway. But if the big snowstorms were more fre- 
quent and severe in those days, requiring a greater effort 
to keep the roads passable, there were no "snow bills" for 
the town to pay, as each and every farmer turned out will- 
ingly and gladly to the task of "breaking roads." 

Beards or Smooth Faces 

The frequent change of fashion, in one form or anoth- 
er, is shown in the matter of beards. It was almost the 
universal custom for men to have clean-shaven faces, or at 
least shaven once a week. This was usually done on Sun- 
day morning at home, so they would appear at church 
properly barbered. A few men, with very heavy, dark 
beards, and with more than common pride in their personal 
looks, shaved twice a week, but always at home. 

The hair, by men and boys, was worn longer than at 
the present time. It is doubtful if any one in Hudson ever 



CUSTOMS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS 355 

wore the powdered wigs that were such a feature among 
the gentry of colonial days. The hair was usually cut by 
some one in the family. 

Long, full beards were worn by very few until after 
the days of the "'49er." The California pioneers of that 
year, when the gold craze was attracting thousands to the 
Pacific slope, during their five or six months' journey across 
the continent to the mines of the Golden West, were forced 
to allow their beards to grow long and unkempt. Months 
in the mines restricted them from returning to the old home 
custom, so full beards became the fashion. Upon return- 
ing to the East these gold-diggers seemed to have set the 
fashion this way, though it was some time before full beards 
were looked upon with favor. Some took to shaving a part 
of the face, and in this way, side-whiskers, chin whiskers 
and the mustache came into vogue. At the present time 
there seems to be an inclination to return to the smooth 
face. And so the pendulum moves to and fro, continually 
changing the customs and fashions. 

Title of Mister 

Many years ago the title of Mister, commonly ex- 
pressed "Mr.," was not applied to all men as at present. 
It was then intended as a title of honor to the few rather 
than of respect to all. It was almost always placed before 
the name of the minister. The term "Goodman" was fre- 
quently used in referring to an average person. 

Justice of the Peace 

In early times more honor and dignity was attached to 
the office of Justice of the Peace, or Quorum, and these 
officers had larger jurisdictions than at present. There was 
generally but one in the smaller towns, and he, in most 
cases, really exercised the powers and duties of an attorney 
in the fullest sense. Ezekiel Chase, Esq., seems to have 
been the first justice resident in this town, and he received 



356 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

his commission as early as 1747, soon after the incorpora- 
tion of the town as Nottingham West. He held the office 
for many years. 

His son, Ezekiel Chase, Jr., received a commission 
about 1760, and held it until his death July 12, 1767, in his 
39th year. 

Asa Davis was commissioned about 1776, and contin- 
ued to hold the office for thirty years. Samuel Marsh was 
commissioned about 1786, and continued as an acting jus- 
tice for many years. 

Publishing the Banns 

When a couple had concluded to marry they made 
known their intentions to the town clerk, who posted a no- 
tice of their intended marriage in one or more of the 
churches. This was called "being published." This notice 
was required by law three Sabbaths before the marriage 
ceremony was performed, so that if any one knew of any 
reason why the couple should not be united in wedlock they 
could appear and make it known. This custom was abol- 
ished before the middle of the last century. 

Highway Fences 

Horses and cattle, and sometimes hogs, were allowed 
on the highway, which was therefore called "the poor 
man's pasture." To protect their fields and crops from 
such animals, fences were built and maintained along the 
roads by all farmers. 

The presence of these creatures feeding upon the high- 
ways was very annoying and troublesome, and frequently 
the cause of much ill-feeling in the neighborhood. This 
practice went out of vogue towards the middle of the 19th 
century, and gradually the highway fences have been al- 
lowed to go the way of other oldtime customs. 



customs of the early settlers 357 

Farm Methods 

The methods of securing the hay crop have undergone 
great changes since the middle of the last century. Much 
of the heavy labor done then has been transferred to horses 
working with machines. At that time all grass was 
cut with hand scythes. It was the custom for the farmer 
to rise between daylight and sunrise. The scythes had 
been sharpened the evening before, and the mower was ex- 
pected to be in the field and ready to start on his first 
swath just as the sun would peep above the eastern hori- 
zon. In this way the mowing would be done mostly in the 
cool part of the day. It was considered also that the grass 
cut easier when the dew was on it. About nine o'clock 
the boys and old men who did not feel equal to swinging 
the scythe spread out the hay to dry. When the sun had 
got up so that the ground was thoroughly dry the hay that 
had been raked the day before and left in cocks was "shak- 
en out," so it would be ready to draw into the barn im- 
mediately after dinner. 

The grass cut upon that day was raked later in the 
afternoon, and left in windrows, or cocks, to be dried 
more completely the next day. The day's work in the 
hayfield was seldom completed until after sunset, and 
cases have been known where it was kept up until after 
dark. 

Grain was all reaped by hand with sickles. Grain cra- 
dles did not come into general use until after the first quar- 
ter of the 19th century. "Reaping time" varied somewhat 
in different seasons, but rye and wheat were usually cut 
between the time of cutting the English grass and the 
meadow crop. The grain, after it was reaped, was bound 
into small bundles and put into stooks, where it was left to 
stand for several weeks until thoroughly cured. 

Oats were reaped later, usually before the meadow had 
all been harvested, for the products of the lowlands, though 
of an inferior quality, was an important portion of the fod- 



358 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

der for the young cattle. These meadows were often situ- 
ated two or three miles away from home. One advantage 
of these tracts, of which there were several of considerable 
size in this town, was the fact that they did not require any 
fertilization except what they got from the flowages of the 
streams that ran through them. Very few of the meadows 
are now mowed, and most of them have been left to be 
covered with a growth. 

"Hills' meadow," of which mention has already been 
made, consisted of one hundred and fifty acres, and was 
divided into sections of from five to ten acres each, owned 
by different farmers. This was situated about two miles 
south-east of Taylor's Falls. Another extensive tract of 
this kind called "The Fine meadow," was located mostly 
in Litchfield, but accommodated many farmers at the north 
end of this town, who owned a few acres each in it. About 
a mile south of the Hills meadow was the Gerrish meadow, 
and the Davenport meadow was not far from this last. 
Still farther south was "Musquash meadow," and in the 
east part of the town near the Pelham line was "The New- 
found meadow," which was one of the largest in town. 
Like the Hills meadow, they were all divided and subdivid- 
ed into lots, so probably every farmer in town owned a 
tract of these lowlands, unless he was fortunate enough to 
own a smaller meadow on his home farm. These last pro- 
duced a better quality of fodder than the larger ones, which 
were known as "bog meadows." 

These tracts were cut late in the season, after all of 
the highlands at home had been harvested, and the day in 
the meadow, while it meant long hours and hard work, was 
usually the scene of considerable merriment and sometimes 
of rough sport. There was the early breakfast, the long 
drive in a hayrick in the morning, the long swaths to be 
cut, and the frequent potations from the jug filled with hard 
cider or something more stimulating. Sometimes the din- 
ner would be taken along, at others the boy would go home 
to get it, or it might be the farmer's daughter would bring 



CUSTOMS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS 359 

it into the field. In either case it was not missed, and hard 
work made good appetites, so it took a good sized pail or 
basket to feed these hungry half-dozen toilers in the mead- 
ows. In the afternoon there was the raking and pitching, 
and what was known in meadow parlance "poling out." 
This consisted of carrying on two stout poles great tumbles 
of hay where the bog was too soft to admit of the team 
coming to them. It took two men, one at each end of the 
poles, which had been placed under the cock to be moved, 
and it was considered the hardest part of the day's work. 
He who had the forward end generally bore the heavier 
portion of the load, but the man at the other end had the 
disadvantage of not being able to see just where he was 
going. So it was not infrequent for him to fall over some 
hummock or hassock in the pathway. It seemed some- 
times, though of course it was not so, that he who led 
sought the roughest course he could find, instead of follow- 
ing the smoothest path. But the height of hilarity and 
enthusiasm was reached when the last load was being 
drawn out of the meadow. Not infrequently this was the 
largest one of the season, and usually the cargo was not in 
readiness to be started homeward until long shadows were 
creeping across the landscape. To insure its safety it was 
usually bound with a stout pole running the length of the 
load. As the oxen were started and the great bulky load 
was seen to move at last, the welkin would ring with the 
shouts of the workmen, who were never too tired to ex- 
press their pleasure at that time. Often, in the large mead- 
ows, several gangs of hands would be at work at the same 
time, in which case there would be an earnest rivalry to 
see who should get his tract finished first. 

Haying in those days was usually begun the first Mon- 
day after the Fourth, and including hay and grain, upland 
and meadow, with all hand labor, was not completed until 
the last of August or the first of September. 

All of the tools used in haying were made by the local 
blacksmith and of course were clumsy and heavy. The 



360 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

light steel forks, similar to those in use now, were not in- 
troduced until about 1840. The horse rake was used by a 
very few about 1845, but did not come into general use 
until several years later. These rakes had steel spring 
teeth without wheels or guides and scratched up so much 
dirt and rubbish that they did not find much favor with the 
farmers. It required a boy to ride the horse and a strong 
man to operate the rake. Another rake that came into 
more or less use at that time had wooden teeth, and was 
known as the "revolver," which required a man, a boy and 
a horse to operate it, though it did more satisfactory work 
than the other. 

The first wheel rake was made of wood, and was hard 
to operate, both for horse and man. This was succeeded 
by the spring-tooth rake, which has been greatly improved 
since it was introduced nearly fifty years ago. 

The first mowing machine used in town was owned by 
James Pierce, Esq., about 1863. It had but one driving 
wheel, and was very imperfect, as well as hard to operate. 
It had a four-foot cutter bar, and did quite good work. A 
little later mowing machines were improved and came into 
general use. 

"Old" and "New Tenor" 

The following terms occur frequently in the old records 
and histories, when money matters are spoken of: "Old 
Tenor," "New Tenor," sometimes "Middle Tenor," "Ster- 
ling," "Lawful money," "Continental money," and "Bills 
of Credit." They occur in this history, and a little expla- 
nation may not be out of place. 

"Old tenor" was paper issued by Massachusetts about 
1737, and by Rhode Island three years later. Each note 
bore the statement that its value was equal to gold or silver 
coin. "New tenor" was an issue made by Massachusetts 
in 1741. Between these dates the province had issued 
what became known as "Middle issue, or tenor." All of 



CUSTOMS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS 361 

these became very much depreciated after a few years. So 
in reckoning it was usual to distinguish between the differ- 
ent issues. "Lawful money" was money which by law 
was a legal tender for debts and dues. 

"Sterling" was an English term, and was gold and sil- 
ver coin of standard weight and fineness, so that at all 
times it was worth its face value. "Bills of Credit" was 
paper issued by authority of the state to circulate as money. 

"Continental money" was issued by Congress to 
bridge over the financial situation during the Revolutionary 
War, and soon became entirely worthless. Hence the ex- 
pression, "Not worth a continental." 

After the Revolution and previous to 1850, prices were 
more generally spoken of in English currency than in that 
of the United States. Some of the more common terms of 
value then in vogue were "four pence ha' penny," which 
was six and one-fourth cents, and "nine pence," or twelve 
and one-half cents. There were silver coins, principally 
Spanish pieces, which represented these values. When 
these coins became worn so that the inscription could not 
be read, a cross was made upon each side, after which they 
were passed for five and ten cents respectively. 

A shilling was 16 2-3 cents; two shillings was 33 1-3 
cents; two and threepence, 37 1-2 cents; three and nine- 
pence, 62 1-2 cents; four and sixpence, 75 cents; five shil- 
lings, 83 1-3 cents; five and sixpence, 87 1-2 cents; seven 
and sixpence, $1.25; nine shillings, $1-50; ten and sixpence, 
$1.75; fifteen shillings, $2.50; sixteen and sixpence, $2.75. 
These terms, almost universally used for so many years, 
are now seldom heard. 



CHAPTER XXVII 

Items of Interest and Local Names 

It is impossible to ascertain where or at what time the 
first mill in Hudson was built. It appears that Joseph 
Winn had a mill not many years after the incorporation of 
the town at the place on Musquash brook later occupied 
for many years by Joseph B. Wilson. Mr. Wilson operated 
a saw and grain mill here, and the same mill was owned 
and occupied by Benjamin Merrill, and since him by Ed- 
ward F. Eayrs. 

Another mill at the privilege of the old Isaac Winn 
mill, near the James Barrett place, existed at an early peri- 
od. The road from the River road over Bush hill to Pel- 
ham line, laid out March 27, 1747, is mentioned in the rec- 
ords as "laid out to the Mill brook near the saw mill." It 
is not known who built this mill or who owned it at this 
time, but some of the Pollards operated it later, if not at 
that time. A saw and grain mill was located there for 
many years, but the supply of water usually failed in the 
summer season. 

Near the outlet of Otternick pond on Otternick brook, 
tradition claims an older mill than either of the preceding, 
a saw mill built about 1710. There is no record to tell who 
the builder was, or the exact date. The first settlers need- 
ed sawed lumber, and it must have been almost impractica- 
ble to have transported it from Dunstable, across the Mer- 
rimack, without a bridge or even an established ferry. Un- 
doubtedly it was one or more of these early settlers who 
constructed this primitive mill. 

About 1778, Moses Hadley built a grist mill and prob- 
ably a saw mill on the south side of the road upon the 
same stream. This mill stood near the site of the one last 
described, and twenty or more years later Mr. Hadley 
362 



ITEMS OF INTEREST AND LOCAL NAMES 363 

purchased the Richard Cutter farm, below this place, and 
built another saw and grist mill. This site was near that 
of the Melendy box shop of the present day. This mill 
was operated as late as 1870. 

In 1820, and for several years later, a clothing mill, 
and probably a carding mill, were located on Otternick 
brook about forty rods above its outlet into the Merrimack. 
At the laying out of a highway May 15, 1820, we find the 
following mention in the selectmen's records: "from the 
River road — by request of Capt. Joseph and Oliver Pollard 
— to their house near the River. They having paid the 
damage." These Pollards at that time were probably own- 
ers of the clothing mill. Later it seems to have been 
owned by Edward Field for several years. Operations at 
this mill seem to have ceased about 1830. 

A saw mill stood a little north of the Derry road on 
the Thomas Senter place, and near the small Senter bury- 
ing ground, for a great many years. It was destroyed by 
fire after 1860. It is understood that a grist mill was also 
located at the privilege. 

Samuel Marshall owned a saw mill located on the sec- 
ond brook a little less than one mile below Taylor's Falls 
bridge and not far removed from the Merrimack River. 
This mill stood for many years, but was finally suffered to 
decay and fall to pieces about 1835. 

Silas Hills, who lived towards the westerly end of Bar- 
rett's hill, erected a saw mill on the small brook north of 
his house between 1840 and 1845. He operated this mill 
when sufficient water flowed in the brook to give the neces- 
sary power. After several years of usefulness this mill 
was allowed to fall to ruin and decay. 

Cyrus Warren had a shop on the south side of Otter- 
nick brook, a little east of the River road, where he manu- 
factured planes for many years. His brother William erect- 
ed a shop for the same purpose on the north bank of the 
brook nearly opposite. Cyrus Warren removed to Nashua 
in 1857, and William died May 9, 1861, after which time no 



364 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

more planes were manufactured in this town. The shops 
of the Warren brothers were afterwards converted into file 
factories, where John Turner, Samuel Walton, and others 
followed that business for a number of years. 

At some time a small mill stood at the brook, a little 
south of the Litchfield line on the east side of the River 
road. But it disappeared long since. 

After his death the mill erected by Moses Hadley was 
operated for many years by the Willoughbys, Ethan and 
Mark. Sometime previous to 1858 the mill was acquired 
by Daniel L. French and his son, Edward Payson French. 
They installed a large amount of machinery and engaged 
in the manufacture of extension tables and other furniture, 
an industry they followed with success for several years. 
This business was done under the firm name of French & 
Gould. Later Albert Shedd & Co., with Warren Spalding 
and Jacob F. Spalding, conducted a similar business here. 
They were succeeded by George S. Wood, who operated 
both the mills and also the table shop, for several years. 
The mills were burned in 1874 and rebuilt; they were 
again destroyed by fire about 1888. 

In December, 1892, George O. Sanders commenced 
the building of a box shop on the site of the present factory 
of Charles F. Melendy. He operated his mill for a few 
years, when it was burned and he rebuilt, to sell it to Mr. 
Melendy, who has made extensive additions to the shop and 
improvements, doing an increased business in the manu- 
facture of boxes. 

In 1820. the town contained four saw mills, four grain 
mills, two clothing mills and one carding mill. 

The Pine Tree Law 

It will be remembered by the careful reader of the 
Charter of Nottingham West that all xohite pine trees grow- 
ing within the territory and fit "for the royal navy" were 
reserved to the King for that use. Similar reservations 
were made in all the grants of townships throughout the 
province made by the royal governors. 



ITEMS OF INTEREST AND LOCAL NAMES 365 

As early as 1722 the New Hampshire General Court 
passed an act making it a penal offense for any person to 
cut white pine trees of twelve inches in diameter and over, 
a law that remained in force until the Revolution. In fact, 
this law had considerable to do with augmenting the trou- 
bles that led to the rebellion of the colonists. The fine for 
cutting trees twelve inches in diameter was £b\ twelve to 
eighteen inches, ,£10; from eighteen to twenty-four inches, 
.£20; exceeding twenty-four inches, £50. Besides all lum- 
ber from trees unlawfully cut was forfeited to the King. 

It is evident that this law must have been very unpop- 
ular with the farmers whose lands were covered with white 
pine forests, whose products were not only useful but need- 
ful in the construction of farm buildings and meeting- 
houses, and more essential to the inhabitants than to the 
King's royal navy. 

Persons styled "Surveyors of the King's Woods" were 
appointed by the King to see that this law was not broken, 
and at the time of the organization of Hillsborough Coun- 
ty, Gov. John Wentworth held that office, coupled with the 
power to enforce its unpopular aims. It was a part of the 
duties of the deputies chosen to help carry out the law to 
mark, at the expense of the owner of the land, all the 
pines deemed suitable for the royal use, with a "broad ar- 
row." This must be done before the settler could begin 
his clearing. Then, if one of the King's officers found one 
of these trees marked or unmarked, he would seize the log 
and sell it for the benefit of the royal treasury. The fol- 
lowing incident, narrated in the History of Hollis, by Sam- 
uel T. Worcester, is typical of the spirit of the times: 

Pine Tree Riot in Weare 

"In the spring of 1772 an incident occurred in the 
town of Weare, in the northerly part of Hillsborough 
County, that well illustrates the bitter, settled hostility of 
public sentiment to this odious law. 



366 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

"A citizen of that town by the name of Mudgett, with 
others, had been charged by a deputy surveyor with un- 
lawfully cutting the king's trees, the lumber made from 
which was then at one of the saw mills in Weare. A com- 
plaint was made against the offender and a warrant issued 
for his arrest, and put into the hands of Sheriff Whiting 
for execution. 

"The sheriff, taking with him an assistant, repaired to 
Weare and arrested the accused. The arrest being late in 
the afternoon, the prisoner suggested that if the officer 
would wait until the next morning he would furnish the 
necessary bail for his appearance at the next court. 

"The sheriff acquiesced in the suggestion, and he, with 
his assistants, went to a tavern near by to pass the night. 

"The coming of the sheriff, with the nature of his mis- 
sion, to Weare, was very soon made known to the towns- 
men of the accused, who, to the number of twenty or more, 
met together, and during the night made their plans for 
bail of a different sort from that understood by the sheriff 
the evening before. Very early in the morning, while the 
sheriff was yet in bed, he was roused from his slumbers by 
his prisoner, who told him his bail was waiting at the door. 

"Whiting complained at being so early disturbed in his 
slumbers. The proposed bail, however, without waiting 
to listen to any complaints of this kind, promply entered 
the sleeping room, each furnished with a tough, flexible 
switch, an instrument better adapted for making his mark 
upon the back of the sheriff than for writing the name of 
his bail at the foot of a bail bond. Without allowing their 
victim time to dress himself, one of the company, as is said, 
held him by the hands, and another by his feet, while the 
rest in turn proceeded to make their mark upon the naked 
back of the sheriff, more to their own satisfaction than for 
his comfort or delight. 

"Having in this way, as they said, squared and crossed 
out their pine tree accounts with the principal, they after- 
wards settled substantially in like manner with his assist- 
ants. 



ITEMS OF INTEREST AND LOCAL NAMES 867 

"Having in this manner satisfied their accounts with 
these officers their horses were led to the door of the tav- 
ern, ready saddled and bridled, with their manes, tails and 
ears closely cropped, and their owners invited to mount 
and leave. Being slow to do so, they were assisted upon 
their horses by some of the company, and in that plight 
rode away from Weare, followed by the shouts and jeers of 
the rioters. 

"The sheriff was not of a temper to overlook or for- 
give such gross abuse and insults. He at once appealed to 
the colonels of the two nearest regiments of militia, and 
with their aid called out a posse comitatus who, armed with 
muskets, marched to Weare to arrest the offenders. The 
rioters for the time disappeared, but afterwards surrend- 
ered themselves, or were arrested, and eight of them were 
indicted for assault and riot, at the September term of the 
Superior Court, 1772. 

"At that term they were arraigned and all pleaded that 
they "would not further contend with our Lord the King 
but would submit to his Grace." Upon this plea the court 
fined them the very moderate sum of twenty shillings each 
with cost. 

"This slight punishment for such an outrage upon the 
high sheriff, when executing the legal process of the court, 
indicated that the sympathies of the bench were quite as 
much with the prisoners at the bar and common sentiment, 
as with the sheriff and the Pine Tree law. This law, as it 
was enforced, was more oppressive and offensive to the 
people of those times than the stamp act and the tea tax, 
and there is little doubt that the attempted execution of it 
contributed quite as much as either or both of those laws 
to the remarkable unanimity of the New Hampshire yeo- 
manry in the hostility to the British government in the 
War of the Revolution that soon followed." The incident 
just related may be justly claimed as among the very first 
overt acts of the people against the King. 



368 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

"The Dark Day," May 19, 1780 

The circumstances and appearances which marked 
this memorable day, as nearly as can be gathered from 
what was long ago related by aged people who witnessed 
the phenomenon, were as follows: 

The morning exhibited nothing remarkable except a 
smoky atmosphere, and a pale glimmering of the eastern 
sky. About eight or nine o'clock a thick haze obscured 
the sun. The heavens assumed a brassy appearance, some- 
thing like the moon under a total eclipse. About ten or 
eleven o'clock a gloomy and melancholy darkness involved 
all terrestrial objects. The domestic fowls and the birds 
and beasts repaired to the retreats of night ; consternation 
and terror seized the minds of mortals, who imagined the 
final end of all things was near. About noon the darkness 
was so great that it was necessary to light candles in the 
houses. 

This singular darkness and coppery hue of the sky 
lasted through the remainder of the day, and the following 
night was one of intense darkness. On the succeeding 
day the sun rose bright and clear. 

The Connecticut state legislature was in session at the 
time, and a motion was made to adjourn. A Mr. Daven- 
port, a member, arose and said: 

"Mr. Speaker, this is either the day of judgment, or 
it is not. If it is not, then there is no need of adjourning. 
If it is, I desire to be found doing my duty. I, therefore, 
move that candles be brought in and that we proceed to 
business." 

The motion prevailed. 

September 6, 1881, was a day of darkness. The weath- 
er was warm and the sky began to look yellow in the fore- 
noon. Everything had a yellowish appearance, and at 
times a greenish cast. It became quite dark. At times 
the clouded atmosphere presented a beautiful appearance. 
The darkest part of the day was about two o'clock in the 



ITEMS OF INTEREST AND LOCAL NAMES 369 

afternoon, but the darkness was different from that of 
night, it being extremely gloomy. Lights did very little 
good. It became normal about four o'clock in the after- 
noon. 

Cold Summer 

The spring and summer of 1816 were very cold and 
backward in New England. There were heavy frosts gen- 
erally in this section during every month of the summer 
season. In the latter part of the season but little rain fell 
and crops suffered on that account, as well as from frost. 
Most of the farmers in Hudson raised but little corn, and 
what they did succeed in growing was more or less frost- 
bitten, of small size and poor quality. 

It was said that there was not a bushel of sound corn, 
raised in town that year. A few, among whom was Wiliard 
Cummings, who planted ten acres of corn, were fortunate 
in raising a large quantity, and while it was not perfect, 
owing to the scarcity it sold at a high price, and was in 
great demand. 

It was difficult for farmers to procure seed corn for 
planting the following spring. There were fair crops of 
rye, wheat, potatoes and barley, but the hay crop was light. 

The spring of 1817 was normal, and average crops 
were raised that year. 

Cold Friday 

"The Cold Friday" of 1810 occurred on the 19th of 
January. In many places the cold was so severe that per- 
sons exposed to the elements were frozen to death, though 
no fatality of this kind was reported in Hudson. A strong 
wind prevailed, doing much damage, blowing down build- 
ings and trees. One who remembered it, said, "It was 
difficult to stand on one's feet, the wind was so strong." 
Thousands of tall trees were blown down, so that great de- 
struction was done to the forests. The cold was not so in- 



370 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

tense as we have had it at other times, as indicated by the 
thermometer, the temperature being from fifteen to twenty 
degrees below zero. The mercury is said to have fallen 
fifty-five degrees in twenty-four hours, from Thursday to 
Friday noon. 

The Great September Gale 

On the 22d of September, 1815, one of the most vio- 
lent tempests ever experienced in New England, as far as 
is known, swept over Massachusetts and southern New 
Hampshire and vicinity. It raged about four hours, doing 
an immense amount of damage. Many houses and barns 
were unroofed or blown down, while fruit and other 
trees suffered greatly. Millions of feet of timber were 
destroyed in the forests. Hudson suffered greatly from 
this storm, and it became the most prominent subject 
of conversation for some time. Along the seacoast the 
tempest raged still more furiously, and the loss to shipping 
was great. Many lives were lost at sea. 

Solar Eclipse of 1806 

The only total eclipse of the sun during the 19th cen- 
tury visible in New England, occurred on the 16th of June, 
1806, between the hours of 10 a. m., and 1 p. m. The 
whole duration of the eclipse was three hours and nine min- 
utes, and the time of the total obscuration was two minutes 
and twenty-seven seconds. 

The day was clear, with scarcely enough wind to move 
the leaves upon the trees. At the time of the total eclipse 
it was said the planets Mars, Venus and Mercury were vis- 
ible, and the larger stars in Orion and Ursa Major. It was 
so dark during the eclipse that the bees returned unladen 
with sweets to their hives; the fowls went to their roosts; 
and the cattle in the pastures ceased grazing. The dark- 
ness was so great that objects could be seen only a short 
distance, and a considerable amount of dew fell on the 
grass. 



ITEMS OF INTEREST AND LOCAL NAMES 371 

February 12, 1831, an eclipse of the sun, the largest 
that had been witnessed since the total one in 1806, took 
place between 10.30 a. m., and 2.15 p. m. At five minutes 
past one o'clock 11.29 digits of the sun's surface were cov- 
ered. The weather was fair, allowing a favorable view of 
the phenomenon. At the time of the greatest obscuration 
the planet Venus was visible. 

Owing to the great distance of the moon from the 
earth at the time of the eclipse, it was not total, but the sun 
was so nearly covered that it appeared in the form of a 
beautiful narrow ring of burnished gold. Many people in 
Hudson supplied themselves with pieces of smoked glass 
and were delighted at the wonderful and beautiful display. 

Old Style and New Style 

Julius Caesar, forty-six years B. C, established the mean 
length of the year at 365 1-4 days, and decreed that every 
fourth year should have 366 days, and the other three years 
365 each. This was known as the Julian Calendar. But 
this was not correct in its results. The Julian year ex- 
ceeded the true solar time by eleven minutes and fourteen 
seconds, causing the vernal equinox, in the course of cen- 
turies, to fall back several days. 

To correct this error and restore the equinox to its 
proper place, Pope Gregory XIII, in 1582, directed the days 
to be suppressed in the calendar. This was accepted by 
the Catholics. The Protestant countries of Europe and 
America, however, were unwilling to adopt the new calen- 
dar because of its Popish origin, and they continued to re- 
tain the Julian system, or Old Style, as it was called. 

At length, in 1751, the British Parliament adjusted the 
calendar by providing that eleven days should be taken out 
of September, 1752, making the third day of that month the 
fourteenth, and that the year 1752 should commence with 
the first day of January. It was also arranged that every 
fourth year a day should be added to February, except such 



372 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

as were divisible by one hundred and not multiples of four 
hundred. This became known "New Style." 

Organization of Hillsborough County 

Previous to 1771 there had been no division of New 
Hampshire into counties. Until that time the sessions of 
the General Court had been usually held at Portsmouth for 
the entire province. This was inconvenient to the inhabi- 
tants to the west of the Merrimack. Complaints were 
made by these people of that fact, and as early as 1754, a 
large portion of the settlers of the towns between the Mer- 
rimack and Connecticut rivers united in a petition to the 
General Court setting forth their grievance, and praying 
for a division of the province into counties. 

Finally, after repeated demands of this kind, the Court 
assented on March 19, 1771, and passed an act dividing the 
province into five counties, which were designated by the 
English names of Rockingham, Strafford, Hillsborough, 
Grafton and Cheshire. These names were bestowed by 
Governor Wentworth in honor of friends of his in England 
prominent in the government. 

The County of Hillsborough was organized the same 
year, with the county seat fixed at Amherst. Two of the 
first Judges of the Court of Sessions were Matthew Thorn- 
ton, of Merrimack, and Samuel Hobart, of Hollis. Benja- 
min Whiting, also of Hollis, was the first High Sheriff. 
Judge Hobart was made first County Treasurer and Regis- 
ter of Deeds, his office being at Hollis. 

Visit of General Lafayette to Concord 

The capital of New Hampshire was visited by General 
Lafayette June 22, 1825, when thousands of the citizens of 
the state embraced the opportunity of greeting the friend 
and companion of Washington, as well as a champion of 
the American colonies in the days of their struggle for in- 
dependence. Hudson was well represented upon that oc- 



ITEMS OF INTEREST AND LOCAL NAMES 373 

casion, among those taking the journey being many of the 
surviving veteran soldiers of the Revolution. 

More than two hundred of the companion-in-arms of 
the great French patriot were present. Edmund Parker of 
Amherst, was chief marshal of the day, Receiving the 
General at Pembroke, the civic escort proceeded towards 
Concord, and at the line] between the towns was met by a 
military escort called out for the occasion. This was under 
the command of Gen. Bradbury Bartlett, a grandson of 
Colonel Joseph Cilley of Revolutionary fame. 

The procession then marched up Main street to the 
North End, then returned to the State house, where the* 
military company formed on either side of the walk from 
the street to the capitol steps. The marshals, committee 
of arrangements and guests passed between the lines to 
Representative Hall, where the governor, council, senate 
and house of representatives were assembled. On entering 
the hall the presence of General Lafayette was announced 
to the convention, which rose to receive him. He was then 
introduced to Governor Morrill, who addressed him briefly 
in an appropriate speech, to which he replied. He was 
afterwards introduced to the members of the council and 
president of the senate by the governor. The president of 
the senate introduced him to each of the senators and to 
the speaker of the house, who performed a similar duty to 
each of the representatives. 

He then descended to the area below the hall and met 
the Revolutionary soldiers, where he was welcomed in their 
behalf by Gen. Benjamin Pierce. A dinner was served in 
the state house park, with about eight hundred of the 
citizens who assembled to honor the illustrious guest, who 
was seated at the right of the chief marshal of the day. 

Pounds 

Every town was required by law, under severe penalty, 
to maintain a good and sufficient pound, in which any per- 



374 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

son could impound any swine, neat cattle, horses, sheep or 
other creatures doing damage in his inclosure, or any such 
creature going at large in any highway or common in vio- 
lation of any law or by-law of such town. 

A pound keeper was chosen annually, as one of the 
necessary town officers. 

The first mention found upon the town records of this 
town in relation to a pound, was that at the annual meet- 
ing March 7, 1737, "Voted that Joseph Hamblet, Jr., and 
Samuel Butler should have their pay for building a pound 
that the town now uses." 

This pound was probably in that part of Nottingham 
that later fell into Pelham. 

October 8, 1744. "Voted to build two pounds, one near 
Samuel Greeley's house and one near the house of Henry 
Baldwin." Henry Baldwin's house was near Beaver brook 
and the house of Samuel Greeley was about two miles 
south of Taylor's Falls bridge. 

March 9, 1747. "Voted to build a Pound near Mr. 
Abraham Page's Dwelling house, and chose Lieut. Joseph 
Winn and George Burns to effect the same." 

Mr. Abraham Page's house at that time was on the 
east side of the Lowell road, about twenty rods southerly 
from the first turnout on the street railway. 

These pounds may not have been all built, but such as 
were made were probably of wood. This last one was ac- 
cepted by the town May 18, 1748. 

March 5, 1759. "The town voted to erect a Pound to 
be set upon the town's land near the meeting-house." This 
was probably on the common near the Blodgett cemetery. 

March 9, 1772. "The town voted to build a Pound and 
set it on ye high land between Nehemiah Hadley's and 
Timothy Smith's, and chose Lt. Reuben Spalding, Asa 
Davis and William Burns a committee to effect the same, 
and also voted to build it with stone, and to be 33 feet 
within the walls, the height to be six feet of stone and one 
foot of wood, and that it shall be accomplished by the mid- 



ITEMS OF INTEREST AND LOCAL NAMES 375 

die of September next, and that the wages shall be fifteen 
shillings silver old Tenor per day for a man and ten shill- 
ings for a yoke of oxen and four shillings and sixpence for 
a cart." 

The pound was completed by the committee chosen, 
and the date of its erection, 1772, was carved upon its eas- 
terly gate-post. 

At the next annual meeting the town elected Timothy 
Smith keeper of the new pound. 

The town continued to use it to impound domestic an- 
imals at all times when required, for more than one hun- 
dred years, since which time it has fallen into disuse. 

In 1859 the town paid Silas T. Steele $11.58, for a new 
gate. 

In 1887 — the pound not having been called into use 
for several years, and having become slightly out of repair 
— some of the citizens of Hudson caused an article to be 
placed in the warrant for the town meeting, in substance: 
"To see if the town will vote to sell the Pound." 

When it came before the town for action in open meet- 
ing, objections were made to its sale, but rather it was 
thought that it should be kept by the town as one of its 
ancient relics. A vote was passed to put it into repair. 
Mark Bachelder repaired it at an expense of $11.50. 

There it stands today (1912), substantially in good re- 
pair; the old gate strong and ready for duty again at 
at an instant's notice. The large iron pad-lock, corroded 
with time, still hangs at the latch, as it has done in the 
past, to secure the entrance from unlawful tramps and in- 
truders. 

Citizens of Hudson! Behold your ancient pound 
where your ancestors placed it, and where it has stood for 
one hundred and forty years. It has withstood all the 
storms and tempests of the times. It is still strong and 
may stand for centuries yet to come. Our fathers taught 
us the noble lesson to do good, honest, thorough work. 
Then let the structure remain as a monument or relic to 



376 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

greet our descendants for all time. Desecrate not a single 
stone. 

In every town are found local names applied to ponds, 
hills, streams, etc. It can be shown how a few such names 
in this town originated. 

"Tarnic Pond" 

This name was derived from the Indian name, Wat- 
tannock, which applied to a certain extent of territory, 
greater or less, situated on both sides of the Merrimack, 
near the mouth of the Nashua river; if, indeed, it did not 
apply to a small tribe or subdivision of a tribe of Indians 
that inhabited this place before the advent upon the scene 
of the first white settler, a statement made by some of the 
early historians. From the Massachusetts Court records 
of 1662, in the description of a grant of five hundred acres 
of land laid out to Joseph Hills of Maiden, and surveyed 
by Jonathan Danforth, we quote the following: 

Laid out to Joseph Hills of Maiden 500 acres of Land in the Wilder- 
ness, on the Eastern Side Merrimack River. 

One Parcel of the same containing (450) Acres Joineth to said River. 

Beginning at Wattannock Right Over Against the Island which Ly- 
eth at the mouth of Nashua River, Running up Merrimack 450 Poles by 
the River. 

Fox's History of the old township of Dunstable, page 
22, says: 

"The valleys of Natticook, of Salmon brook and the 
Nashua, (or Wattannock as it is called in the Court Rec- 
ords,) especially near their mouths, were favourite resorts 
and abodes of the Indians." Nason's History of Dunsta- 
ble, page 61, under the head of "Water Supply," says: 

"For about two miles and a quarter along its western, 
border flows in a quiet current the beautiful Nashua River, 
once the favourite resort of the aborigines. It was an- 
ciently called the Watananock." 

McClintock's History of New Hampshire, page 131, 
says: 



ITEMS OF INTEREST AND LOCAL NAMES 377 

"During the year 1702 the colonial court of Massachu- 
setts built a trading-house for the Indians, and established 
a fortified garrison at Watanic — the Indian name of Nash- 
ua — which was afterwards called Queen's garrison, and was 
situated about sixty rods easterly of Main street in Nashua, 
and about as far north of Salmon brook." 

In the History of Hillsborough County, N. H., page 
458, may be found : 

"Otternick (pond), more commonly called Tarnic, — 
lies about one mile east of the Merrimack, — contains 38 
acres and empties into the river by Otternick brook about 

80 rods below Taylor's Falls bridge The name 

was derived from an Indian name, variously given in the 
ancient records as Wattananuck, Watannuck, Watananock, 
Watananuck, Watannack, &c." 

New Hampshire As It Is, published in 1856, gives the 
names of the ponds in Hudson as "Little Massabesick and 
Otternick." New Hampshire Agriculture, 1874, page 428, 
also gives the same names to the ponds. 

The Statistical Gazetteer of New Hampshire, published 
in 1874 by A. J. Fogg, page 203, gives the name "Otter- 
nic," the terminal letter being dropped. The United States 
Topographical Survey, made in 1904, Manchester quadran- 
gle, gives the names of the ponds as "Otternic" and "Rob- 
inson's." 

The brook flowing from Watannock pond, as it was 
formerly named, to the river, afforded the inhabitants of 
the town a most bountiful supply of the small fish called 
alewives, whose flesh, although containing a large quantity 
of small bones, was very delicious and of fine flavor. 

This was the most noted brook along the river for the 
ascent of this migratory fish in May of each year. Myriads 
of them could be seen in it on their way from the river to 
the pond — about one mile — to deposit their spawn. 

The town appointed wardens "to take care that the 
fish are not obstructed in their passage up Wattannock 
Brook." 



378 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

This action was taken for many years, and laws were 
passed by the General Court to prevent their obstruction. 

Robinson's Pond 

The original name of this sheet of water was "Little 
Massabesic," an Indian appellation said to mean the place 
of much water. 

Near the end of the eighteenth century Simeon Rob- 
inson settled on the north side of this pond, where some of 
his descendants still reside. 

During the last half century the name of the pond has 
undergone a gradual change until it has come to be almost 
universally known as Robinson's Pond. 

Barrett's Hill 

The old Londonderry line passed over Barrett's hill in 
a north-westerly and south-easterly direction, but so as to 
leave the majority of the inhabitants there north of the 
line. When that portion of Londonderry was annexed to 
Nottingham West in 1778, most of the farms on Barrett's 
hill were owned and occupied by Barretts, and they and 
their descendants continued to reside there for many years 
later. Hence the name. 

Bush Hill 

The name of Bush hill, which is situated in the south- 
east part of Hudson, and boasts several good farms, may 
be found in the early records of the town. Considerable 
research has been made by the writer to ascertain the ori- 
gin of the name, but without any success. Probably it will 
never become known. 

Hills Row 

This name was applied to a section of the Derry road 
extending: from the Alden Hills house about two miles east- 



ITEMS OF INTEREST AND LOCAL NAMES 379 

erly towards Londonderry. Nathaniel Hills once owned a 
tract of land there containing nine hundred acres, which 
was divided into farms of about one hundred acres each. 
Most of these farms were conveyed to his brothers and sons, 
who became residents upon them. As the result the name 
of Hills was to be found at nearly every house within the 
section mentioned for more than a hundred years. 

Two male residents, only, by the name of Hills, reside 
there at present. 

"The Farms" 

This name was given to that section extending from 
Taylor's Falls bridge up the Merrimack to Litchfield line, 
and included all the farms embraced in the original grant 
of four hundred and fifty acres of land to Joseph Hills in 
1662. 

"Taylor's Falls Bridge" 

This locality was named from Taylor's Falls, a slight 
fall in the Merrimack some eighty rods below the bridge. 
It is supposed that the falls were named for John Taylor, 
who was one of the first settlers on Hills farms, or possibly 
for William Taylor, who was one of the early settlers near 
the falls. 

School Districts and School Houses 

School house Number One was called "Musquash," 
being situated near the brook bearing that name, the In- 
dian name of which was Nacook, and not far from Mus- 
quash pond. 

Number Two was known as "The Red School House," 
having, in the early part of the nineteenth century, taken 
its name from its color. 

Number Three — "Bush Hill" — was located on the hill 
of that name. 



380 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Number Four, formerly known as the "Old South," 
derived its name from the South meeting-house or the 
South common. 

Number Five, "Corliss Hill," was situated near the 
summit of a hill by that name, at the east part of the town. 
Near the base of this hill and on the east side, James Cor- 
liss settled about 1787, and the Corliss family continued to 
occupy the place until recent years. Hence the name. 

Number Six, "The Farms," from Hills' farms. 

Number Seven, "Frog Corner." The origin of this 
name, by which the district has been known from time out 
of memory, is not now ascertainable. 

Number Eight, "Barrett's Hill." 

Number Nine, "Kidder District," was situated near 
the farm once owned by Benjamin Kidder. 

Number Ten, "Hills Row." 

"Thurston's Jump" 

This is a precipitous, rocky bluff situated one mile dis- 
tant from Hudson Center in a south-easterly direction, and 
a short distance north of the Haverhill and Nashua electric 
line. It is considered one of Nature's curiosities, and has 
been visited by many people. This bluff is of a considera- 
ble magnitude. 

It was related to the writer many years ago by an aged 
person, that this name was derived from the fact that a cer- 
tain Mr. Thurston, after duly indulging in the "ardent," 
lost his balance upon the brow of the cliff, fell over the 
precipice and rolled to its base. He received some bruises, 
but was not seriously injured. A little later a deer, with a 
dog close upon its trail, coming to the cliff, went to the 
bottom many feet below, with a single bound. The dog 
soon followed. The result was that neither dog nor deer 
retained a whole limb. 






items of interest and local names 381 

"Moose Swamp" 

This swamp is located at the north-east corner of Hills' 
meadow near the Bush hill road. It derived its name from 
the fact that the last moose known to have been in this 
town was killed by Asa Davis, Esq., at this place, about 
the beginning of the nineteenth century. 

"Chase Hill" 

Quite a lengthy and steep rise in the Bush hill road, a 
little north of Moose swamp, has long been known by this 
name. An old cellar a short distance north of the high- 
way at this place, indicates the site of a former dwelling. 
This was the home of Daniel Chase for many years subse- 
quent to 1792. 

Town Commons 

The South Common, as it was formerly called, origi- 
nally contained four or five acres when acquired by the 
town from Benjamin Whittemore in 1748. A piece of this 
land was taken for a cemetery, roads were laid out upon it, 
and probably it was otherwise infringed upon until its size 
was reduced to less than one and one-half acres. In 1798 
a piece of it was given to the proprietors of the South 
meeting-house, then building, "to set said meeting house 
on, so long as a meeting house shall be continued there." 

Soon after the South meeting-house had been sold by 
the proprietors and removed from the common, Zaccheus 
Colburn, a grandson of Captain Thomas Colburn, one of the 
early settlers of the town, sold the common at auction, for 
the sum of sixty-seven dollars, Joseph Blodgett being the 
purchaser. The conveyance was a deed of quit claim, 
dated March 11, 1845, and recorded in Vol. 285, Page 408, 
and signed by Zaccheus Colburn, Mary Hills, Lydia Har- 
ris, Sarah Colburn, Paul Colburn, Isaac Colburn and Susan 
E. Proctor, with their wives and husbands. 



382 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Beginning at a small elm tree at the intersection of the roads near 
Eben Hadley's; thence northerly across the road leading to Winn's Mill' 
to Nathan Blodgett's land; thence westerly by said Blodgett's land and 
land of Mrs. Doil to the south east corner of the grave yard ; thence wes- 
terly by the grave yard wall to the south west corner of the yard ; thence 
northerly by the grave yard wall to Mrs. Doil's land; thence westerly to 
the county road ; thence southerly by the road to land of Joseph and Jos- 
eph Blodgett Jr.; thence easterly by said Blodgett's land to the place of 
beginning. 

Apparently there was some error or misunderstanding 
in regard to the ownership of this common. A nephew of 
Zaccheus Colburn, Captain Isaac, who died March 5, 1890, 
aged 91 years and three months, several years previous to 
his decease, in a conversation with the writer concerning 
the ancient meeting-houses of the town, stated: That two 
meeting-houses were built upon the lands of his grand- 
father, Captain Thomas Colburn. That these lots were to 
revert whenever they should cease to be used for the pur- 
pose for which they were given. 

This was true of the lot near Musquash brook where 
the first meeting-house was built in 1734, but does not 
seem to have been the case with the South common. The 
town records plainly show that this common was formerly 
owned by Benjamin Whittemore, and seems to have been 
acquired by the town from him in 1748. No conveyance 
is to be found, yet it may have been recorded in Masachu- 
setts. There is no evidence whatever that at any time it 
belonged to Thomas Colburn. Hence the supposed error. 

The Common at the Center, or North Common, as 
well as the old burying ground adjoining the same, are 
both located upon land that was included in the farm of 
Deacon Henry Hale, though no conveyance of either by 
him to the town can be found. The common and burying 
ground together form a triangle, surrounded by roads and 
lying directly across the highway from the site of the North 
meeting-house, erected about 1771. 

They are bordered by the Windham road on the north, 
by the Pelham road on the south-west, and by a short piece 



ITEMS OF INTEREST AND LOCAL NAMES 383 

•of road, passing between these two, on the east. The 
common contains some two acres. 

It is not known whether the common or the burying 
ground was the -first to be occupied, but it seems probable 
that, at the time the North meeting-house was built, or 
soon after, Deacon Hale gave this land — surrounded by 
roads and thus cut off from the rest of his farm — for a com- 
mon and public burying ground both. The burying ground 
contains one-half an acre, and was located at the south-east 
corner. 

However the titles to this land may have been ac- 
quired from Deacon Hale, the ownership of the same by 
the town is not known to have ever been questioned by 
anyone. 

The old militia trainings were held upon this common. 
At one time a set of hay scales was located upon the south 
side, opposite the Tenney tavern, which occupied the site 
where Henry C. Brown's house now stands. 

In 1859 the near-by neighbors planted the common 
with trees, and otherwise improved it. Many of these 
trees did not thrive, but several are still alive and flour- 
ishing. 

Stocks 

For the punishment of minor offences stocks were for- 
merly in vogue in this town, and perhaps the whipping 
post, too, although no record of the latter is found. 

The stocks were made of timbers with holes in them 
for the feet — and frequently for the hands as well — one- 
half of each hole being in each of two timbers, one of which 
was above and rested upon the other. The offender was 
made to sit at a convenient distance in front of the ma- 
chine, and the upper timber was raised until the feet could 
pass between them. Then the ankles were placed in the 
parts of holes in the lower timber and the other was low- 
ered and locked in its place. The process was repeated 



384 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

with the hands in another set of timbers higher up, and 
thus the culprits were confined securely until such time as 
they were released by the officer in authority. 

On September 21, 1747, at a town meeting held at the 
house of Benjamin Whittemore, it was voted "to erect a 
pair of stocks." 

"Voted three pounds Old tenor money to erect the 
same. 

"John Marshall was chosen to build said stocks." 

It is not known where these stocks were located, but 
it seems most probable that they were placed upon the 
common soon after its acquisition from Mr. Whittemore. 

"Potash Corner" 

This corner is situated on the Derry road at the "four 
corners" near the small Senter burying ground in the 
north-easterly part of the town. It is not known how the 
name was derived. 

"Lawrence Corner" 

Lawrence Corner is situated in the east part of Hud- 
son, near Beaver brook, and took its name from a Law- 
rence family that resided in that vicinity for many years. 

Library Park 

For several years previous to 1911 the small triangular 
tract of land, containing about an acre and a fourth, or 
fifty-four thousand, seven hundred and eighty-seven feet, 
situated some sixty rods to the north-east of Taylor's Falls 
bridge and on the south-east side of Derry road, had been 
under discussion by the citizens of Hudson, residents of 
that section, as a public park for the town's use. 

On the high ground and not far from the north angle 
of this tract, a very ancient cellar, of some historical value, 
was situated. 






ITEMS OF INTEREST AND LOCAL NAMES 385 

It was undoubtedly the site of Nathaniel Davis' home. 
Nathaniel Davis came into this town — probably from Ha- 
verhill, Mass. — as early as 1755, and settled near the ferry 
— now Taylor's Falls bridge — where he remained for sev- 
eral years. At one time he seems to have owned the ferry. 
He became an influential citizen, had a large family of chil- 
dren, and later removed to what became the John M. 
Thompson farm, one and a half miles to the north, and 
died there September 18, 1783, aged 58 years. 

About 1891 George O. Sanders came into possession 
of this triangular piece of land, for which he paid a large 
price — said to have been about thirteen hundred dollars. 

Later he plotted it into nine or ten small building lots 
and offered them for sale, but did not succeed in selling 
any of them. 

Several years later the title of this land was acquired 
by parties living in Nashua, by whom it was divided into 
eleven house lots and offered for sale at public auction, of 
which two lots, only, were actually sold. 

In the early spring of 1911 a party that had acquired 
the title to one of the lots sold, began preparations for 
for erecting a small house thereon. 

It was then apprehended by the inhabitants that, 
should a majority of these lots be built upon with buildings 
necessarily small and, most likely, of an inferior quality, 
it would prove to be of no real benefit to the town, and 
might possibly prove to be detrimental. 

The matter of acquiring this tract for a public park 
had long been in agitation, but no real aggressive move- 
ment towards its attainment had ever been inaugurated. 

At the annual town meeting in March, 1911, the war- 
rant contained an article as follows: 

To see if the town will vote to purchase or acquire the triangular 
tract of land situated near Hudson Bridge, bounded by Ferry Street, San- 
ders Street and the Derry Road, and owned by Charles S. Clement and 
others, for town purposes ; raise and appropriate money therefor or take 
any other action relating thereto that may be deemed expedient. 



386 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

This article was by vote indefinitely postponed. Later 
a subscription paper was circulated which was signed quite 
liberally, and a considerable sum of money subscribed. 

In the meantime the small house, which had been be- 
gun on one of the lots, had progressed quite rapidly. 

A special town meeting was called, to meet on the 15th 
day of May, 1911: 

"To see if the town will authorize the selectmen to ac- 
quire the land by the Right of eminent domain for a public 
park." 

At that meeting the following resolution was offered 
by Dr. Alfred K. Hills, who had always been keenly inter- 
ested in the acquisition of this land for a park. 

Resolved, That the Board of Selectmen of the town of Hudson are 
hereby authorized to acquire by condemnation or other proceedings, and 
grade the triangular piece of land, bounded by Derry Road, Sanders and 
Ferry Streets, for the purpose of a public park, to be known as Library 
Park, provided there shall be no expense to the town whatever. 

The same Board of Selectmen are also authorized to appoint a com- 
mission to lay out said park and a superintendent to care for the same, 
also without expense to the town. 

This resolution was passed by a unanimous vote. Dr. 
Hills proposed to bear all the expense for the purchase of 
the land and the grading of the park, with such assistance 
as the venerable Mrs. Mary Creutzborg might wish to give. 

This land was then procured of the several owners at 
the expense to Dr. Hills and Mrs. Creutzborg of sixteen 
hundred and ninety dollars. 

To satisfy the owner of the house which had been 
erected, and to compensate him for the small lot upon 
which it stood, another much larger and more desirable site 
was procured upon which a cellar was constructed, to which 
the building was removed. In doing this an expense of 
seven hundred and seventy dollars was incurred which 
was paid from the fund raised by individual subscriptions 
already mentioned. 

A little later the tract was surveyed by an engineer, and 
properly laid out for a park, soon after which the grading 



ITEMS OF INTEREST AND LOCAL NAMES 387 

was commenced. When brought to a proper grade it was 
heavily surfaced with soil and seeded with lawn grass. 
Also the roads upon the east and south sides were lowered 
to harmonize with the grade of the park. 

An ornamental and enduring little structure, largely 
of concrete, and well adapted as a pleasant resting place 
for those awaiting the electric cars, is placed at the south- 
east corner of the park. A rough granite boulder is locat- 
ed near the south-west angle, and facing the south-west, on 
whose front is securely bolted a heavy circular bronze tab- 
let bearing this inscription : 

Library Park 
The gift of Mary Field Creutzborg. 1911 

This was all completed in 1911 by Dr. Hills and Mrs. 
Creutzborg. In the spring of 1912 the park was planted 
with ornamental shade trees and shrubbery, and otherwise 
beautified. 

This is one of Hudson's most valuable assets, and it is 
greatly appreciated by her citizens, who feel very grateful 
to the donors for their considerate generosity. 

Warning People Out of Town 

In May, 1719, it was enacted by the General Court of 
New Hampshire, "That if any person came to sojourn in 
any town in the province and be there received and enter- 
tained by the space of three months, and not having been 
warned by the constable to leave the place, and the names 
of such persons, with the time of their abode there, and 
when such warning was given, returned to the quarter ses- 
sions; such person shall be reputed an inhabitant of such 
town, and the town is liable to maintain such person. It 
is also enacted, that any person so warned out, and neglect- 
ing for fourteen days to remove, may by a warrant from a 
Justice of the Peace be sent from constable to constable 
unto the town where he properly belongs, or had his last 
residence, at his own charge, if able to pay the same, other- 
wise at the charge of the town sending him." 



388 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

In early times the selectmen were very alert in pre- 
venting new-comers from becoming town charges. Incase 
they had been legally warned and notified to leave within a 
certain time, if later they became so impoverished as to 
need aid, the town was not liable for their support, but as- 
sistance must be sought at the place from whence they 
came. It is not implied that the constable had power to 
eject from town the persons notified, but in case of need 
the town could not be compelled to assist them. Some- 
times persons of considerable means received a warning. 

May 15, 1749, William Hills and his family were 
warned to leave the town by Thomas Kinney, constable, 
by order of the selectmen. 

June 17, 1751, Lydia Mansur, with her child, living at 
the house of Thomas Brown, was warned to leave town by 
order of the selectmen. 

October 17, 1751, Mary Cloyd and her child, residing 
at the house of John Tarbox, were warned out of town by 
order of the selectmen. 

April 2, 1755, Mary Lowell was warned to leave town. 
(Widow woman late of Londonderry). 

October 26, 1758, Nathaniel Jewell, wife and family, 
late of Dunstable, warned to leave town by order of the 
selectmen. 

June 4, 1759, order from selectmen to warn Mark Per- 
kins and family and mother, Mary Perkins, to leave town. 

August 17, 1759. Like order to Daniel J. Shepard and 
his wife. 

June 10, 1761. Martha Chase of Newbury, Mass., 
warned to leave town. 

June 18, 1761. Jeremiah White, wife and family of 
Ipswich, warned to leave town. 

July 30, 1762. Elizabeth McMaster, wife of Samuel 
McMaster of Pelham, ordered to leave town with her family. 

June 30, 1763. Zebediah Richardson, late of Pelham, 
warned to leave town by order of selectmen. Also same 
date, Mary Lowell, widow woman, warned to leave town. 






TTEMS OF INTEREST AND LOCAL NAMES 389 

July 4, 1764. Roland Rideout, Judith Rideout, Susan- 
na Rideout, Nathaniel Rideout and Abigail Rideout warned 
to depart and leave the town. 

June 16, 1769. Order to warn Robert Bettys, Hannah 
Bettys, Andrew Bettys, Jr., and Esther Bettys to leave 
town. 

August 28, 1769. Rhoda Lund warned to leave town. 

April, 1770. Mary Brown warned out of town by the 
constable and returned to the Court of General Sessions. 

Also Esther Jarvis and her children warned out and 
returned at the same time, by Samuel Greele, Jr. 

January, 1771. Rhoda Lund and Esther Blanchard 
warned out of town by Jeremiah Blodgett and Samuel Hills 
and "returned to ye clerk of ye court of General Sessions." 

September 30, 1776. Order to John Hale, constable, 
to warn Thomas Campbell to leave the town. 

September 30, 1776. Order to John Hale, constable, 
to warn Patrick Lanagee and Elizabeth Lanegee, his wife, 
to leave town. 

March 3, 1777. A like order to warn William Bailey, 
a minor, to leave town. 

October 27, 1779. Order to warn Joseph Parey to 
leave town. 

At the annual town meeting, March 1, 1790, the elev- 
enth article in the warrant was as follows: 

To see if the town will vote to take David Campbell out of the Gould 
(Jail) at Amherst where he is confined for his Rates for the year 1788. 

It was "Voted, that the selectmen take this article into 
consideration and act as they think proper." 

Murders 

The first murder committed in this town, so far as is 
now known, occurred June 26, 1775, when Samuel Davis, 
son of Ensign Nathaniel Davis, was slain with an ax in the 
hands of Roland Rideout, an insane person. 

Davis was engaged in constructing a water hedge at 
the shore of the Merrimack river, on the line between his 



890 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

father's land and the Cummings farm, about sixty rods 
north of Taylor's Falls bridge. He was born in this town 
December 21, 1757. Probably Rideout was assisting in the 
work, as on March 6, 1775, the town voted to give Nathan- 
iel Davis four shillings per week, lawful money, for keep- 
ing Roland Rideout. Rideout continued to cause the town 
much trouble and expense, until 1779, when he was removed 
to Wilton at an expense to the town of ;£30-5s-0d lawful 
money. 

A very sad event occurred in this town June 14, 1873, 
in the cold-blooded murder of a beautiful, promising, chris- 
tian young woman, which cast a gloom over the entire 
community. 

A happy family, residents of a humble home in the 
north-east section of the town, comprised Charles Wood, 
his wife, Louisa (Cummings) Wood, and two daughters, 
Ella F., nearly twenty-one years of age, and Emma E., who 
was in her twentieth year. 

A young man, William H. Jewett, who had no steady 
employment, but who traveled upon the road a portion of 
the time, selling goods in a small way, had become ac- 
quainted with the family, and very much attached to the 
elder daughter. 

He was very persistent in pressing his attentions upon 
her, and continued to do so for a considerable period of 
time. Finally, acting in accordance with parental advice, 
the young lady rejected the ardent wooer. He immediate- 
ly became desperate, and on that beautiful June day, hav- 
ing come to her home prepared for the deed, he discharged 
his revolver at her point blank. The bullet entered her 
forehead and passed through her brain. 

From the same weapon he sent a second bullet into 
his own head. He died from the wound two days later, 
while his victim lived just one week after the fatal shot was 
fired. She died on June 21, 1873. 

This was a stunning blow to the unfortunate family, 
from which they never fully recovered. 



CHAPTER XXVIII 

Great Storms and Freshets 

The Merrimack River, usually so calm and beautiful, 
at times is transformed into raging violence and becomes 
appalling in its appearance. Freshets at irregular periods 
have been recorded when great damage was done. These 
floods resulted from sudden thaws, with excessive, warm 
rains, melting large bodies of snow, especially when the 
ground was frozen, or from long storms when great quanti- 
ties of rain fell. Usually the first form proved the most 
dangerous, as in addition to the uncommon volume of water 
the river would be filled with floating cakes of ice broken 
up by the warm weather and rain. 

With the present system of storage of surplus water, 
and lack of the great forests to hold the snow, great fresh- 
ets are not liable to occur as frequently as formerly. Still 
it is only a few years since that the Merrimack in forty- 
eight hours was transformed from a peaceful river flowing 
gently down to the sea into a foaming, roaring torrent car- 
rying terror and destruction in its pathway. The proprie- 
tors of locks and canals on the Merrimack River were the 
pioneers in the matter of retaining, as far as possible, any 
overflow to be used in times of drought and low water. 
This was done for the beneht of the big mills along the 
stream, and by means of dams at the outlet of Lake Win- 
nepesaukee, and other bodies near the head-waters of the 
Merrimack, hundreds of square miles of country have been 
flowed to several feet in depth, and held in reserve to 
the time of need. These reservoirs are mostly in Bel- 
knap and Carroll counties. This partial control of the sur- 
plus water has served to check somewhat the volume of the 
floods at the periods of overflows. A few of the most noted 
and destructive freshets within the records of those times 
391 



392 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

are described here. Chase, in his History of Haverhill, 
Mass., gives the following account of a freshet in 1740: 

"The summer of 1740 was remarkable for the amount 
of rainfall which fell and flooded the country, as the subse- 
quent winter was for the severity of the cold. It was prob- 
ably the most severe winter that had been known since the 
settlement of the country. 

"After a very wet summer and fall, November 4th it 
set in very cold. On the 15th a foot of snow fell, but on 
the 22d it began to rain, and it rained three weeks togeth- 
er. This produced a freshet in the Merrimack 'the like of 
which was not known by no man for seventy years.' The 
water rose fifteen feet in this town and floated off many 
houses. 

"On the 12th of December, the river was closed by 
the severity of the weather, and before the first of January, 
loaded teams, with four, six and eight oxen passed from 
Haverhill and the towns below to the upper long wharf at 
Newburyport." 

Freshet of 1818 

A destructive freshet occurred in the spring of 1818, 
of which Chase speaks in his history, as follows: 

"In the spring of 1818 occurred one of the most re- 
markable freshets recorded in the history of the Merrimack 
towns. The snow had been suddenly melted by a violent 
rain, and the water rushed down the valley of the Merri- 
mack with the greatest fury, tearing up the ice, which was 
nearly two feet thick, with the noise and convulsions of an 
earthquake. 

"Driven into immense dams the ice rolled and flew 
about in every possible direction. The river was raised 
twenty-one feet above common highwater mark; the coun- 
try around inundated; buildings were removed and de- 
stroyed; and ruin spread on every side. The noble bridge 
across the Merrimack at Rocks Village became a total 






GREAT STORMS AND FRESHETS 6U6 

wreck, and its fragments were soon lost to sight in the an- 
gry and merciless flood. The appalling sublimity of the 
great freshet of 1818 will never be forgotten by those who 
witnessed its desolating march." 

Bouton's History of Concord, N. H., describes the 
freshet of 1818 in the following words: 

"On Tuesday, May 5th, was an unusual freshet. The 
intervale was covered with water, and the river extended 
from its usual channel to from one to two miles. Bridges 
in the town were impassable for a number of days. No 
spring freshet is recollected to have been so high. The 
bridge between Boscawen and Canterbury was carried 
away." 

Freshet of 1824 

Bouton's History of Concord, page 771, contains an 
extract from the Diary of John Kimball, which speaks of 
this freshet as one of great violence. February 10-11 a 
great thaw set in, and on the 12th the ice left the river and 
carried off Federal bridge. 

Freshet of 1839 

Another extract from Mr. Kimball's Diary says: "1839, 
January 26, Rained for twenty-four hours; the river rose 
fifteen feet in fifteen hours, and came within three feet of 
the door steps of the house, and to the top of the sills of 
the barn, which was occasioned by the river being damned 
up by ice. 

"It carried off all the bridges on the river except Fed- 
eral bridge and that so damaged as to be impassable." 

At Amoskeag Falls this freshet created great havoc 
and presented a sublime spectacle. Great cakes of ice 
went tearing over the dam, and for a time the first cotton 
mill which had been recently built on the river bank near 
to the brink of the tumbling waters was seriously threat- 
ened. It subsided without doing any particular harm. 



394 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Great Freshet of 1841 



In his History of Concord, page 444, Bouton speaks of 
this freshet of January 2, 1841, as "one of the most re- 
markable ever known on the Merrimack in the winter. On 
Tuesday week the cold was excessively severe, the mercury 
down to sixteen, eighteen and nineteen degrees below zero 
in the morning. Wednesday moderate, eight degrees be- 
low zero, and commenced to snow. Thursday, rain and 
strong south wind. Friday, as warm as April. At noon 
the river had risen four or five feet; by night its banks 
were nearly full. 

"About seven in the evening the ice started, and im- 
mediately a crashing sound, nearly as loud as the report of 
a small cannon announced the destruction of the east part 
of the Free bridge, and pier after pier, and section after 
section followed, till a little past eight, all but one pier on 
the west was carried away. 

"One pier of the Federal bridge and two lengths of 
stringers were carried away. The ice blocked up the chan- 
nel of the stream above the Lower bridge, and turned the 
water over the intervale, thus saving the bridge. Fears 
were entertained that the river had cut a new channel for 
itself, but it soon resumed its old channel. 

"The ice between Wattanummons and Federal bridges 
was piled up in such quantities that some of it remained 
till the following May." 

The writer of this — at that time being a boy of twelve 
years of age — well remembers the freshet of 1841, together 
with the sudden and severe thaw which caused it. 

The early winter had been severely cold, and an un- 
usual amount of snow had fallen for the season, The 
change in the temperature was sudden and radical. The 
weather became almost as warm as summer, with south 
and southwest winds accompanied by a great fall of rain. 
The snow nearly all was quickly melted and this water ad- 
ded to the large amount of rain that fell, raised the river to 



GREAT STORMS AND FRESHETS 395 

an uncommon height. The ice was broken up the whole 
length of the river from the lake to the sea, which created 
furious onslaughts of the swirling flood and caused much 
damage to property, to say nothing of lives that were en- 
dangered. 

Nearly all of the bridges above that at Taylor's Falls 
were swept away. 

Freshet of 1843 

The winter of 1842-3 was remarkable for its deep 
snows and cold weather. The first of April, 1843, about 
four feet of snow lay on the ground at Hudson. The melt- 
ing of the snow during this month caused a very high river. 
Bouton's History, page 453, gives the following account of 
this outcome: 

''April 27. The freshet in the Merrimack River has 
been higher at Concord than has been known for a great 
number of years. The water, which a week ago last Mon- 
day was the highest, fell some four feet by the last of the 
week. Since that time, in consequence of rains and rapid 
melting of snow, it has been rising again. A great portion 
on the intervale is submerged, and the entrance into Con- 
cord from the east over Federal and Free bridges is im- 
possible." 

Freshet of 1852 

A very noted freshet occurred in the Merrimack val- 
ley about April 23, 1852. A wooden bridge over the Nash- 
ua river in Canal street, Nashua, was carried away. The 
water in the Merrimack came up on the boarding of the 
Taylor's Falls bridge about twenty inches, rising nearly to 
the floor of the bridge. The water overflowed the road 
from the end of the bridge nearly to the Concord railroad 
station, covered Bridge and Hollis streets, so that it was 
necessary to use boats. 



396 HISTORY OF HUDSON 



HlGHWATER OF 1862 



April 20, 1862, the Merrimack River was very high, 
but not as high by two or three feet as it was in April, 
1852. The ice having left the river earlier, very little dam- 
age was done by the high water along this part of the 
river. 

Freshet of April 16, 1895 

A freshet occurred in April, 1895, which raised the 
Merrimack to a higher point than any previous for many 
years. The river overflowed its east bank opposite the 
mouth of the Nashua river, and covered the land as far 
east as Webster street The ice had principally left the 
river sometime previous, so that at this time little damage 
was done along this section of the Merrimack. 

Great Freshet of 1896 

On March 2, 1896, the Merrimack was higher at this 
point than it had been since 1852. It was not far from the 
same height it had reached at the latter date — probably 
a little higher. If this is true it was the highest freshet 
that has taken place here for about a century, so far as I 
have been able to learn by historical evidence or family 
tradition. 

It rained almost continuously Saturday and Sunday, 
February 29 and March 1. The river was rising very rap- 
idly on Sunday, and the ice, having been weakened con- 
siderably from the warm sun of the previous days, was 
broken up and went out on this day before the water had 
become extremely high. Before midnight, March 2, the 
river gained its highest point, and began, slowly at first, to 
recede. The weather turned colder Tuesday, March 3, 
and the water fell very rapidly. 

At the highest point during this freshet, the water 
covered all of the traveled part of Webster street directly 



GREAT STORMS AND FRESHETS 397 

west of the house of Kimball Webster, so it was just six 
feet, six and one-half inches lower than the top of the stone 
underpinning of that house near the front door. The sur- 
face of the flood was between three and four feet only be- 
low the floor of the iron bridge across the Merrimack. 
This was two feet higher than the deck of the wooden 
bridge that spanned the river at the same point in 1852. 
The water was several feet deep in Hollis and Bridge 
streets on the west side in Nashua, and it became neces- 
sary to resort to boats for transportation between Hudson 
and Nashua. 

Accounts of other freshets, of greater or less severity, 
on the Merrimack might be given, but these few, which are 
the most noted and remarkable that are recorded, will 
suffice. 

Great Snow Storm of 1888 

A most remarkable snow storm took place in March, 
1888. In the forenoon of Monday, the 12th, snow began to 
fall moderately, but increased during the afternoon and 
that evening it fell furiously. A strong wind was blowing 
from the north-east, and the damp, heavy snow was drifted 
badly on the country roads. The storm did not stop until 
the morning of the 13th, and as it cleared away all of New 
England, New York, Pennsylvania and other sections of 
the country were blocked by the storm. The highways 
were universally impassable for teams, and a large amount 
of shoveling was required before they could be opened. 
Almost all of the railroads in New England were complete- 
ly tied up for one or two days, and some of them for much 
longer. 

The annual town meeting in New Hampshire fell upon 
Tuesday, but very few were held in the state on that day. 
In Hudson a few of the legal voters whose residences were 
near the town house — the place of the meeting — met and 
legally adjourned until Saturday, March 17. On that date 



398 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

the town meeting convened, and its regular functions were 
performed, officers elected and business transacted as 
usual. 

A majority of the towns in the state took similar ac- 
tion, only a very few being able to carry on the regular 
business as intended. 



CHAPTER XXIX 



Ferries and Bridges 

Eleazer Cummings established the first ferry across 
the Merrimack of which there is any account. This was 
soon after the town of Nottingham was incorporated, and 
crossed just below the mouth of the Nashua river. The 
ferry was continued at this place by Mr. Cummings until 
about 1742, when, as family tradition relates, in considera- 
tion of an agreement to convey himself and family over the 
river free of expense at all times when practicable, he re- 
linquished his rights to another person, who established a 
crossing below the present location of Taylor's Falls bridge. 
If this person's name was Dutton or not there is nothing to 
show now, but the ferry was called Dutton's Ferry, for Jo- 
siah Dutton, who owned it at one time. 

The old ferry road on the east side descended the river 
bank near where the present highway meets the bridge, 
and the way to the ferry on the west side was where Crown 
street intersects with the river. 

February 6, 1749, John Snow conveyed to Ezekiel 
Page a certain tract of land in the Township of Dunstable. 
now in Nottingham West, containing thirty-six acres, in 
consideration of ,£460 Bills of Credit, Old Tenor, the deed 
recorded in Vol. 2, page 377, Hillsborough County Reg- 
istry of Deeds: 

Beginning at the south east corner (S W) at a Black Oak tree stand- 
ing on the Bank of Merrimack River marked with I. B. being the north 
west corner of Joseph Lemon's Esqr's land, thence easterly by marked 
trees to a pine marked I. B. being the south east corner. Thence north- 
erly by Josiah Cummings land 30 tods and a half to a stake and stones 
in the north east corner, thence westerly a straight line to a stake & 
stones being about 10 rods from said River, keeping the same width as at 
the east end — that is 30 1-2 rods from the south line. 

399 



400 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Thence running north west to Merrimack River to a stake & stones 
on the bank of said River. Thence southerly down said River to the 
first bound. 

Bounded northerly by Nathan Cross' and Morgson's land & Easterly 
by sa 

Witnessed by Eleazer Cummings and Benjamin Snow. 

The land conveyed by this deed included all that was 
used for the purpose of the ferry on the east side of the 
river, extending northerly of the bridge several rods so as 
to include the Ferry road. Ezekiel Page and his brother 
John probably carried on the ferry for many years. 

Captain Joseph Kelley owned and operated this ferry 
for nearly twenty years, beginning about 1776, and he was 
succeeded by Joshua Hamblet, who was proprietor until he 
was drowned in 1812. His son Josiah then owned and con- 
tinued this ferry until Taylor's Falls bridge was completed, 
when it was discontinued, after a continuous existence of 
eighty-five years. It is possible there were other persons 
owning the ferry during these many years, but if so it was 
only for short periods and the names of the parties have 
not been preserved. 

Hills' Ferry 

Not many years after the incorporation of Notting- 
ham, Nathaniel Hills, who had settled about half a mile 
northerly of the old Hills garrison place in 1739, established 
a ferry across the Merrimack known as the Hills' Ferry, 
soon after his settlement here. Mr. Hills died April 12, 
1748, and he was succeeded in the ownership of the ferry 
by his son Oliver, born November 18, 1727, and died after 
1783. His son, Philip Hills, born May 2, 1754, appears to 
have been the next owner of this ferry, which he operated 
for many years, though he probably resided on the west 
side of the river in his later life. There was a ferry 
house on that bank. He died July 14, 1841. Oliver, son 
of Philip Hills, lived at the Hills Ferry place, where he died 
April 6, 1863, aged 56 years. His son, George E. Hills, 



FERRIES AND BRIDGES 401 

was the last of that family to reside there. He was born 
there in 1836 and died in 1904. Hills' Ferry was always 
owned and operated by the family, until 1827, when it was 
discontinued. 

Hardy's Ferry 

This ferry was located in the southerly part of the 
town, and was established by Jonathan Hardy, who was 
first assessed in 1743. The earliest mention of the 
ferry in the records was at the laying out of a highway, 
March 26, 1746, running from the county road to Hardy's 
Ferry. This crossing of the Merrimack was nearly oppo- 
site the South Nashua station on the Boston & Maine rail- 
road The cellar of the old ferry house may be seen on 
the east side of the river. 

This was later known as Pollard's Ferry, and appears 
to have been owned for many years by Capt. John Pollard, 
son of John Sr., who was born November 20, 1752. 
Later this was called Corey's Ferry. This ferry, like the 
others mentioned, was discontinued about the time of the 
building of the bridge at Taylor's Falls. 

Taylor's Falls Bridge 

As the number of inhabitants increased and the traffic 
across the river became greater, the need of a bridge was 
apparent. Accordingly, in 1826, some of the more promi- 
nent citizens of Hudson and Nashua Village signed a peti- 
tion to the State Legislature calling for a charter to build 
a bridge, and this was granted to "The Proprietors of Tay- 
lor's Falls Bridge" for that purpose. At that time there 
was no bridge across the Merrimack between Lowell and 
Manchester, though there was one at each of those places. 

Taylor's Falls bridge was completed in 1827, and 
opened as a toll bridge. The structure was built of old 
growth native white pine teamed from New Boston, and 
was of lattice work. It was 509 feet in length, with a road- 



402 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

way about sixteen feet in width, but had no sidewalks. 
The sides were covered with boards, and it had a shingled 
roof over it. The easterly span was 153 feet and ten and 
one-half inches in length ; the middle span was 143 feet and 
seven inches; the westerly or Nashua section was 164 feet 
and eight and one-half inches, not measuring any part of 
the pier or abutments. The piers had one tier of faced 
stone on the outside filled with loose stones, all laid dry 
without any cement. 

The expense of building this bridge was a little less 
than twelve thousand dollars. This was no small under- 
taking for the stockholders, but it proved a profitable in- 
vestment in the end. It should be remembered that Nash- 
ua Village, had, but a short time before the building of this 
bridge, sprung into existence. 

Seven years before the completion of Taylor's Falls 
bridge, a few of the leading citizens of that part of Dunsta- 
ble now comprising Nashua had conceived the idea of build- 
ing mills at Mine Falls on the Nashua river, where a saw 
mill had been erected on or before 1700, according to 
Fox. This original idea was finally abandoned, and the 
present site of the mills was adopted, thus locating the 
town three miles east of the position it would have occu- 
pied had the first plans been carried out. 

In 1823, a charter was granted to Daniel Abbott, Moses 
Tyler, Joseph Greeley, and others under the name of the 
Nashua Manufacturing Company, with a capital stock of 
$300,000, divided into three hundred shares of $1,000 each. 
The capital stock was afterwards increased to one million 
dollars. Within a year considerable of this stock had been 
disposed of to capitalists, work was begun on the dam 
at Mine Falls, and the excavation of the canal which was 
to lead to the proposed factories. This canal is about three 
miles in length, with a width of sixty feet, a depth of six 
feet, with a head and fall of thirty-three feet. In 1824, a 
charter was obtained by the Nashua Manufacturing Com- 
pany for the purpose of building a "canal with the neces- 



FERRIES AND BRIDGES 403 

sary dams and locks to connect the Nashua with the Mer- 
rimack River." This work was carried out so the way was 
open for the transportation of goods in the spring of 1826. 
The lower dam across the Nashua river was built at this 
time. 

The locks, which were near the east end of what is 
now Lock street, were of solid stone, twenty-four feet high; 
each lift being ten feet wide and eighty-one feet long. 
They cost $20,000, while the canal dam added ten thousand 
dollars to this sum. 

The canal was of great advantage to the growing vil- 
lage, which was rapidly becoming the center of business 
for the surrounding towns. It was well situated as regard- 
ed the transportation of the merchandise of the day. Boats 
plied up and down the Merrimack between Concord, Man- 
chester and Lowell, while the route was continued to Bos- 
ton by the Middlesex canal. 

In May, 1825, a portion of the lower water privilege, 
now occupied by the Jackson Company, was sold by the 
Nashua Manufacturing Company to Charles C. Haven and 
others, who were incorporated under the name of Indian 
Head Company, for the purpose of erecting woolen facto- 
ries. These works went into operation in 1826. The pop- 
ulation of Dunstable in 1820 was 1,142, and in ten years it 
had increased to 2,417, the gain made mostly at the manu- 
facturing village which had come into existence within the 
period. 

Not many years after the bridge was built at Taylor's 
Falls an ice jam and high water pressed so hard against the 
Hudson pier that fears were entertained for its safety. To 
avoid this danger in the future an ice break was erected in 
1834, which is still in its place. 

The original bridge was lighted nights by oil lanterns 
always hung at the north side. In the winter season, when 
snow was on the ground so as to make sleighing, the floor 
of the bridge was kept covered with it. The toll-house 
was located on the north side about fifty feet west from the 



404 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

end of the bridge. The gate crossed the road from the 
toll-house to a high fence on the south side, and was usual- 
ly kept open in the day time, but closed at night and bolted. 

Zadok Farmer was the toll-gatherer for many years, 
but sometime before it became a free bridge John M. 
Sanders held the position. The enterprise proved profit- 
able, netting satisfactory returns to the stockholders, and 
it continued as a toll-bridge for twenty-eight years, when 
under a petition to the supreme judicial court, the county 
commissioners laid out a public highway over the bridge 
from Nashua to Hudson, and it became a free bridge in 
1855. 

Eventually the bridge became unsafe for travel, and at 
the annual town meeting, March 8,1881, "Kimball Web- 
ster, Stephen D. Greeley, Osgood Hill, James B. Merrill 
and Enoch Cummings were chosen a committee to exam- 
ine Taylor's Falls Bridge, and to consider what in their 
judgment would be best, to repair or rebuild, and to report 
at an adjourned meeting the 22d, to which time this meet- 
ing was adjourned." At the adjourned meeting the com- 
mittee reported that it considered any repair of the old 
bridge inexpedient and unprofitable, and it unanimously 
recommended the building of a new one, its construction 
to be begun as soon as practicable. This committee also 
advised the building of an iron structure to take the place 
of the wooden one. This report was accepted, and the 
committee was authorized to confer with a committee ap- 
pointed by the city of Nashua relative to building a new 
bridge. 

At the annual town meeting March 14, 1882, this com- 
mittee reported that after careful investigations, coupled 
with the work of the committee for the city of Nashua, they 
adopted from among several proposals from different com- 
panies that submitted by the Corrugated Metal Company, 
of East Berlin, Conn. It also decided that the grade of the 
bridge be raised two feet above the old one, which would 
make the new stone masonry upon the piers and abutments 



FERRIES AND BRIDGES 405 

about five feet in height. The contract was awarded to 
this company for $19,500, the stone work under the bridge 
included, and the contractors were to remove the old struc- 
ture, having the old material. After the bridge had been 
placed in position and opened for travel it was thought best 
to add an extra railing on the south side for the further 
protection of the public. 

The cost of the bridge and the repair of the ice pier, 
as far as the town of Hudson was concerned, is shown in 
the following report: 

Contract with Corrugated Metal Co $9,750.00 

Corrugated Metal Co., extra railing 250.00 

Corrugated Metal Co., extra railing at end of 

bridge 189.00 

C. J. Griswold & Son., extra work on pier and 

abutment 53.00 

C. W. Spalding for stone 132.00 

For labor fitting and laying stone 113.45 

For sewer pipe, grate, use of derrick, cement, 

blacksmithing, etc 49.30 

For grading 69.30 

*Services of Engineer, E. H. Hewins, of Boston 75.00 

Traveling expenses, postage, etc 29.62 

$10,710.67 
This included the total expense of the bridge to 
Hudson, excepting the repairs of the ice pier, 
which amounted to 99.93 



Total expense $10,810.60 

Hudson received from Nashua towards the ex- 
pense $1,500.00 

Hudson received from Londonderry 800.00 

Hudson received from Litchfield 1,200.00 



Total $3,500.00 

Leaving an actual expense to Hudson of ... . $7,310.60 



* Mr. Hewins was a bridge engineer, and was employed to report upon the strength and 
value of the bridge. He did no other engineering in connection with its building. 



406 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

The bridge was completed so as to be open to public 
travel November 29, 1881, though James Ryan had crossed 
it with a light team the evening before. 

With the exception of new planking once in two or 
three years, an occasional tightening of the rods and a new 
coat of paint, the bridge received very little repairs for 
fourteen years. This was in 1895, and in order to strength- 
en it for the passage of the electric cars running between 
Nashua and Lowell, the railroad company put in all new 
floor beams, and materially strengthened the structure in 
other ways at an expense of $10,000, all of which was borne 
by the company. 

In response to a petition from a number of citizens in 
the autumn of 1908, the selectmen of Hudson built a wind- 
shield on the north side of the bridge to protect those 
crossing the river, from the biting blasts of winter that had 
a wide sweep down the course of the stream. A similar 
petition was presented to the city of Nashua, which was 
complied with the following year, These fences were to 
be removed during the summer months. 

In the summer of 1909 another and more serious ques- 
tion asserted itself in the minds of the people, and this was 
the safety of the bridge in allowing the passage of the 
heavy electric cars, which were more than double the 
weight of those first used on the line when the transit of 
them was allowed. To settle the matter the city govern- 
ment of Nashua called an expert engineer from Boston, a 
Mr. Pettee, to test the bridge and report as to his finding. 
He found it unsafe and reported accordingly. Not satisfied 
with this report another engineer was asked to make an 
examination and he corroborated Mr. Pettee's statement. 

The selectmen of Hudson immediately issued a call 
for a special town meeting, and this was convened Septem- 
ber 22, 1909, when it was voted to take action in regard to 
building a new bridge of iron or steel. The selectmen were 
authorized to confer with representatives of Nashua and 
the managers of the Boston and Northern street railway 



FERRIES AND BRIDGES 407 

relative to what should be done. It was also voted that 
Kimball Webster and Sidney P. Gowing should serve as a 
committee to act in conjunction with the selectmen. 

This committee, with the Board of Public Works of 
Nashua, formed a joint committee, which held numerous 
meetings, and procured plans and specifications for a new 
steel bridge, with a road-bed twenty-eight feet in width and 
a sidewalk six feet wide. This structure was to be of suffi- 
cient strength to carry a fifty-ton car. Bids were also pro- 
cured for building the bridge above the foundation of stone 
work. The lowest bid was from the Boston Bridge Com- 
pany, which was for #38,692.00. 

At the annual town meeting, March 8, 1910, an article 
"to see if the town would vote to raise sufficient funds to 
build a bridge across the Merrimack at Taylor's Falls" was 
indefinitely postponed. 

At this meeting a new board of selectmen, consisting 
of Jesse S. Weston, George N. Dooley and Guy A. Hop- 
kins, was elected. The plan of building a concrete bridge 
instead of a steel structure was now agitated. The select- 
men, with the committee on bridge, Messrs. Webster and 
Gowing, met with the Board of Public Works of the city of 
Nashua, in joint convention to consider the feasibility of 
this plan. The result was a warrant for a special town 
meeting in Hudson to be held May 14 to act upon the mat- 
ter. In order to have the necessary number of voters at 
the meeting an earnest effort was made in that direction, 
with satisfaction, so when the vote was taken there were 
192 voting in favor of the construction of a concrete bridge 
and two against it, the entire number of ballots cast being 
194. 

The selectmen elected in March, with Kimball Web- 
ster and Nathaniel Wentworth, were authorized to confer 
with the Nashua Board of Public Works, and with them to 
procure the construction of a concrete bridge across the 
Merrimack in place of the iron bridge then spanning the 
river. The joint committees acted promptly, so that June 



408 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

6, 1910, a contract was signed by the joint committee or? 
one part and Fred T. Ley & Co., (Limited) of Springfield, 
Mass., on the other. This provided for a reinforced concrete 
bridge according to the specifications of a plan furnished, 
the structure to consist of five arches, with four piers and 
an abutment at each end, the roadway to be thirty feet 
clear with an overhanging sidewalk on the north side six 
feet in width. The contractors were to provide for the 
necessary travel — restricted — over the river during the 
construction of the new bridge, at their own expense. Ten 
days of cessation of traffic was allowed the builders in 
which to remove the old bridge, the new structure to be 
finished within 120 days, Sundays and stormy days except- 
ed. The cost was fixed by the contract at $74,480.00. 

The difficulty and expense of the construction of the 
foundations on the Nashua half of the bridge very much 
exceeded the same on the Hudson end. The abutment 
and two piers of the latter were located on solid ledge 
foundation, and the water was only a few feet in depth. 
The Hudson abutment was in excellent condition and only 
needed to be faced in concrete. Both the Nashua piers 
were located in water thirteen or fourteen feet deep, with 
an unsafe bottom, which needed to be piled to insure an en- 
during foundation. The original abutment here had been 
set on a treacherous support. 

Work was begun upon the Hudson abutment by the 
contractors June 14, 1910, and continued with a rapidity 
and regularity so that the last pieces of the old iron bridge 
were removed November 14. The first teams to cross the 
new bridge, which was still unfinished, was on November 
17. The electric railroad track was laid through the cen- 
ter of the bridge, November 23, and the first electric car to 
cross the new bridge passed over about eight o'clock the 
same evening. The running of cars over the old bridge 
had been suspended about the middle of July. During 
this interim of more than 130 days, all passengers going to 
or from Nashua by the electric lines were compelled to 
walk over the bridge. 



FERRIES AND BRIDGES 409 

The work upon the bridge was not finished, but was 
suspended for that season by the contractors December 
19, and was resumed the following spring. Later in the 
season of 1911 the westerly pier, or pier No. 4, was found 
by engineers to be defective, it having places in the interi- 
or containing weak concrete. This defect was to be over- 
come by reinforcing the pier with a solid concrete wall of 
several feet in thickness around it. But the work was begun 
too late in the season to complete it, so that it had to be 
suspended until the spring of 1912. The Hassam pave- 
ment was placed upon the bridge in September, 1911. 

The work of reinforcing and strengthening pier No. 4, 
as had been recommended by the consulting engineers, J. 
R. Worcester & Co., of Boston, Mass., which engineers 
have a reputation of being one of the most reliable and 
best equipped firms of engineers in New England, was 
completed about the first of September, 1912. The engi- 
neers made a final report, September 4, 1912, which report 
is copied in full and is self explanatory: 

Sept. 4, 1912. 
Bridge Committee of Town of Hudson and 
City of Nashua, N. H. 

Gentlemen : 

We would respectfully report that the Contractor for the Taylor's 
Falls Bridge has completed the work of reinforcing Pier No. 4, to our sat- 
isfaction and that we see no reason why the bridge may not now be safely 
accepted by the Committee. 

When we first examined the bridge about a year ago, we found a con- 
dition of the foundation concrete of Pier No. 4, which indicated that it 
was not properly cemented. This condition we considered to be of such 
gravity that we recommended that a careful examination be made of this 
foundation concrete, not only in Pier No. 4, but also in Pier No. 3. 

This further examination having been authorized by you we had va- 
rious holes excavated in both these foundations, and found that the con- 
dition in Pier No. 4 was very bad, while in Pier No. 3 the concrete was 
fairly good. It seemed as if there were danger in allowing Pier No. 4 to 
stand as it was through the winter, and a design was prepared by us for 
reinforcing the foundation. The execution of this reinforcing was en- 
trusted to Fred T. Ley & Company, the Contractor for the Bridge. 



410 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

The scheme for strengthening consisted in driving a row of piles 
around the foundation and enclosing them in a coffer dam about two feet 
away from the old foundation. The space between the coffer dam and 
the old foundation was filled with first class concrete, and the top was 
capped with a heavily reinforced ring of concrete surrounding the old pier 
and wholly enclosing all the material of the quality of which there was 
the slightest suspicion. 

The Contractor was able to get in the piles, the coffer dam and the 
most of the concrete before being driven out by high water in December. 
This afforded sufficient protection to the pier to prevent any damage. As 
soon as the water dropped this summer, the coffer dam was pumped out 
and the work carefully examined. No injury being discovered, the cap- 
ping of reinforced concrete was applied. 

As stated in our report of October 23, 1911, we consider that the 
bridge, except for Pier No. 4, which has now been repaired, is free from 
defects which impair its strength or durability. The blemishes to its ap- 
pearance which we have noted, are not, in our opinion, of structural im- 
portance. 

We take pleasure in adding that in the matter of repairing Pier No. 
4 we have found the contractor desirous of doing everything to our entire 
satisfaction, sparing no expense to accomplish a good job; and we believe 
in this he has been successful. 

Respectfully submitted, 

(Signed) J. R. WORCESTER & CO. 

A final meeting of the joint committee was held at the 
City Hall, Nashua, October 14, at 7.30 p. m., when there 
were present, William H. Barry, mayor, president ; John 
Hagerty, Frank T. Lewis, Joseph Rousseau and Erwin 
O. Hathaway, city engineer; clerk of the Board of Public 
Works of Nashua, and Jesse S. Weston, George N. Dooley, 
Kimball Webster and Guy A. Hopkins, of the committee 
of Hudson. 

The report of the engineers was read, when it was 
voted unanimously that the bridge be accepted and that 
the balance due the contractors, Fred T. Ley & Co., be 
paid. 



CHAPTER XXX 



Cemeteries and Burial Grounds 

There are in Hudson eight cemeteries or burial places* 
These are known respectively as Hills Farms Cemetery, 
Ford Burial Yard, Blodgett Cemetery, Old Hudson Center 
Burying Ground, Senter Yard, Sunnyside Cemetery, Hud- 
son Center Cemetery, and Catholic Cemetery. 

While there is no positive proof of the fact, it has long 
been conceded by the older inhabitants that the Hills 
Farms cemetery is the most ancient in town. 

Hills Farms Cemetery 

The original part of this cemetery is situated upon 
level, sandy land nearly midway between the Derry and 
Litchfield roads, bounded northerly by the highway called 
Derry Lane, and about two miles from Taylor's Falls 
bridge. This section was laid out upon the south-east cor- 
ner of the Hills garrison farm, where Nathaniel Hills and 
his brothers, Henry and James, settled in the pioneer days 
of Hudson. 

The exact date of its being laid out, or of the first in- 
terment, are not known, but must have been several years 
subsequent to the time of the Hills settlement, as two or 
three young children of Nathaniel Hills were interred in 
the ancient burial ground at South Nashua, near the South 
Nashua railroad station, after Mr. Hills and his family had 
lived at the garrison house. 

The early settlers seldom erected head stones with in- 
scriptions at the graves of their deceased friends and rela- 
tives, so the markings that are found do not indicate the 
earliest interments. It is probable that this place was used 
as a burial ground previous to 1730. 
411 



412 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

The first mention of this cemetery to be found in the 
town records is under the date of April 4, 1749, when the 
town 

Voted to change the highway between land of Edward Spalding and 
Roger Chase by the Farms burying ground. 

It was again referred to December 13, of the same 
year, in another lay-out of the same road, Derry Lane, 
which "runs the North side of said Burying place." The 
most ancient date found upon the head stones in this yard 
is that of "Joseph, son of Capt. Ezekiel and Mrs. Esther 
Greeley, who died Sept. 18, 1749." The date 1738 is found 
upon a common stone at the head of an ancient grave, but 
there is no other inscription whatever. 

There is no record found to show that this yard was 
ever conveyed to the town, but it was used as a public 
burial place, and it is it probable that it was given for that 
purpose by Nathaniel Hills. 

The family names most frequently found upon the 
head stones are Hills, Greeley, Spalding, Marsh, Marshall, 
Pierce, Cross and Sprake, all of which were numbered 
among the early settlers upon the Hills Farms. 

About 1873, small additions of one rod in width were 
made by the purchase of land upon the south and west 
sides, and the yard was soon after inclosed by a stone wall 
with iron gates. The additions, with other vacant land in 
the yard, were laid out into lots, streets were graded, the 
bushes destroyed and other needed improvements made 
The yard as inclosed contained a little less than one and 
one-half acres. 

By Chapter 190 of the Laws of 1885 this yard was in- 
corporated under the name of "The Farms Cemetery." 
This charter was amended by Chapter 159, Laws of 1905, 
by changing the name to "The Hills Farms Cemetery." 

Since the extensive improvements made in 1873, the 
yard has been under the supervision of officers, who have 
kept it in excellent condition. 



CEMETERIES AND BURIAL GROUNDS 413 

Dr. Alfred K. Hills, in view of a needed extension of 
these grounds, purchased a large tract of land adjoining on 
the east and extending to the Derry road. He has had 
about six acres of this land surveyed and bounded, as an 
intended addition to the old cemetery. This proposed ad- 
dition has a frontage of 330 feet on the Derry road, extend- 
ing westerly at a right angle 760 feet on the south side to 
the corner of the old cemetery wall. On the north side it 
runs 873 feet to Derry Lane. When this addition, with 
the proposed improvements, is accomplished, it will make 
this yard the most spacious, with the exception of the 
Catholic cemetery, and the most accessible, convenient 
and attractive in Hudson. 

Ford Cemetery 

The next burial yard in order of antiquity, and claimed 
by some to be the most ancient, is a small cemetery in the 
south part of the town, south of and near the location of 
the first meeting-house, erected in 1734. It was the usual 
custom of the early settlers of New England to have a 
burying ground, or church yard, as it was called, adjoining 
the meeting-house lot, sometimes extending on three sides. 
In this case this could not be done on account of the char- 
acter of the land surrounding the house of worship, but a 
lot as near by as could be found suitable was selected. 
This place was laid out and consecrated to the use of a 
burial ground not far from the date of the building of the 
church in 1734. 

The oldest inscription found in this yard is that of En- 
sign John Snow, which is dated March 28, 1735. Ensign 
John Snow was assessed in 1734, and the town records give 
the date of his death as March 21, 1735. 

This is a small yard, containing about one-half acre. 
It has been used by a few families, residents of the south 
part of the town, and has been carefully kept. It is in- 
closed by a stone wall, with an iron gate. 



414 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

The most frequent names among the inscriptions are 
Snow, Merrill, Ford, Fuller, Gowing and Barron. Within 
this yard is the grave of Rev. Nathaniel Merrill, the first 
settled minister of the town, who preached here more than 
half a century. 

Blodgett Cemetery 

The third burial yard in order of age is the Blodgett 
cemetery, which has sometimes been called "The Old 
South," and is located near the Lowell road, about one and 
one-half miles south of the bridge. It contains about one 
acre, and was acquired by the town from Benjamin Whit- 
temore for a meeting-house site and for public uses. The 
second meeting-house erected by the town in 1748, stood 
on the southerly side of the yard and near the present gate 
of the cemetery. This burial plot was the church yard 
flanking the church on the rear and both ends. As we 
have seen, in time the meeting house was moved away, and 
a school house, No. 4, was built upon its site. This, in the 
winter of 1855, was burned. 

Before this time a question seems to have arisen as to 
the validity of the town's title to the lot. At a town meet- 
ing held at the North Meeting-house, November 28, 1839, a 
committee consisting of Jeremiah Smith, Thomas B. Wa- 
son and Daniel T. Davis, was chosen "to examine into the 
claim the town has to the common and grave yard near the 
South meeting house." 

At the annual meeting March 11, 1840, the town 
"Voted to accept and record the Report in relation to the 
boundary line of the burial ground at South meeting house, 
Viz:" 

The undersigned a committee chosen at a legal Town meeting to es- 
tablish the boundary lines of the Burying ground at the South meeting 
house in Hudson have attended to the duty of their appointment, ask 
leave to report. 

The committee met on the 14th day of Feb., 1840, on the premises 
together with Reuben Greeley Esq., the owner of the lands on the east & 



CEMETERIES AND BURIAL GROUNDS 415 

north lines of the said Burying ground, and the said committee and the 
said Reuben Greeley Esq. did mutually agree to establish said east & 
north lines of said Burying ground as follows, to wit: 

Beginning at the south east corner of said Burying ground, at the 
corner of the wall, on the north side of the highway, at a stone set in the 
ground with stones about it; thence N. 21° W. 14 rods 17 links in 
the direction of the wall which is now partly built, to a stone set in the 
ground with stones about it; thence S. 67° W. 16 rods 10 links to a stone 
set in the ground with stones about it at the highway. 

THOMAS B. WASON, 

JEREMIAH SMITH, Committee. 

DANIEL T. DAVIS, 

As the site of the old meeting-house upon which the 
school house stood was a part of the public land bought by 
the town of Benjamin Whittemore, in 1748, when the school 
lot was abandoned the land reverted to the town, and was 
added to the cemetery. A little later a cemetery associa- 
tion was organized, and it is understood was incorporated 
either by the state legislature or under the revised statutes. 
Then the yard was inclosed by a stone wall, with iron gate, 
was cleared of bushes and rubbish and otherwise improved. 

Family lots were located and laid out upon the vacant 
grounds, and, either from carelessness or willfulness, new 
lots were plotted upon the mounds of ancient graves, which 
were obliterated by this vandalism, which seems to the writer 
inexcusable, and lacks the veneration that rightfully be- 
longs to the memory of our departed ancestors. Land in 
Hudson has not yet become so dear as to make it necessary 
to use the same ground more than once for burial pur- 
poses. 

The most ancient date found among the inscriptions of 
this yard is that of Priscilla Chase, who died October 5, 
1749. 

The names that most frequently appear on the head 
stones in this yard are Blodgett, Greeley, Burns, Chase, 
Pollard, Winn, Wason, Hale, Caldwell, Page, Wilson, 
Cross, Merrill and Burbank. 



416 history of hudson 

Old Hudson Center Burying Ground 

The old cemetery at Hudson Center contains about 
one-half acre. The land was given for the purpose by 
Dea. Henry Hale about 1775. There is a tradition that a 
Mrs. Gibson was the first person buried in this yard, but 
the date has not been preserved. The oldest inscription is 
that of John Haselton Smith, son of Page and Lydia 
Smith, who died September 5, 1778, aged two years and 
eight months. 

This yard, being small, became filled with graves many 
years since, and burials ceased to be made there. It was a 
public burial place, and after it became filled, it was for 
many years neglected, and became overgrown with bushes 
and small trees. The question of removing the remains 
was at one time agitated, for the purpose of adding the 
ground to the public common. A petition was circulated 
to call a special town meeting, April 22, 1871, but the at- 
tempt to carry out this idea was opposed by a majority, 
and the article was dismissed. 

The discussion aroused by this action may have at- 
tracted the attention of a wealthy son of Hudson, Mr. 
John Foster, who had been a merchant in Boston for many 
years. A young brother of his, John Hastings Foster, 
born December 11, 1811, and died April 26, 1818, and 
whose little head stone can be seen now, helped to stimu- 
late the sentiment of Mr. Foster to a righteous indignation 
over the neglect of the town's people. In 1886 he offered 
to pay the town one thousand dollars, to be expended in 
clearing up, fencing and improving this yard, the town 
agreeing henceforth to keep it in proper condition. 

This matter came up for consideration at the annual 
town meeting in March, 1887, when the generous offer was 
gladly accepted. A committee consisting of Kimball Web- 
ster, Daniel M. Greeley and Henry C. Brown was chosen 
to build the wall and improve the yard. Later Mr. Foster 
increased his gift to twelve hundred dollars. 



CEMETERIES AND BURIAL GROUNDS 417 

The committee contracted with Mr. Moses Davis, of 
Nashua, but a native of Hudson, to build a granite wall, 
laid in cement, every stone of which should reach through 
the wall, supported by a substantial foundation and capped 
with long stones. The wall was completed within the ex- 
pense of twelve hundred dollars, but without any profit to 
Mr. Davis, who made as good a wall as was possible with 
the money regardless of any benefit to himself, on account 
of his interest in the town. 

The yard was cleared and made as attractive as possi- 
ble, and when Mr. Foster came with his only daughter to 
see it, he was entirely satisfied with the work in every re- 
spect. That he might express this satisfaction in a more 
substantial manner he soon after forwarded the committee 
three hundred dollars, to be divided equally among the 
members, to pay them for their services as building com- 
mittee. The citizens of Hudson owe an enduring debt of 
gratitude to Mr. Foster for his patriotic generosity, and to 
Mr. Davis also. 

The names most frequently found in this yard are 
Smith, Barrett, Haselton, Page, Marshall, Robinson, Cor- 
liss, Glover, Hale and Merrill. 

The Senter Burying Ground 

A small burial place containing about three-fourths of 
an acre, and called the Senter yard, is located in the north- 
easterly section of the town, at "Potash Corner," so called 
in years gone by. The home of Dea. Thomas Senter, 
from whom it probably derived its name, was near by. 
The yard lies in that part of the town annexed to Notting- 
ham West from Londonderry, in 1778, and from the dates 
of the inscriptions it appears to have been a place of burial 
for many years previous to the annexation, by several fam- 
ilies that formerly resided in the south-east corner of Lon- 
donderry, as well as others living in Nottingham West, 
now Hudson. 



418 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

The names most frequently found are Senter, An- 
drews, Greeley, Farley, Kidder and Hobbs. The most an- 
cient date is upon a stone roughly marked E L e. KID. 
Feb. 24, 1759. This may be an abbreviated form for Kid- 
der. The next date reads as follows: 

Here lyes the body of Mrs. Jean Senter, wife to Mr. John Senter. 
She died July 10, 1765. Aged <57 years. 

The yard is situated upon very hard, gravelly ground, 
where the digging is difficult, but it seems to be nearly 
filled with graves, though only a small percentage of them 
are provided with head stones and inscriptions. 

Many years since this little cemetery was inclosed by 
a very respectable stone wall, but as time passed on it was 
neglected, until some of the wall had fallen down, so that 
cattle from the adjoining pastures could enter here and 
feed at their pleasure. Bushes began to grow above the 
resting-places of the dead, and altogether the yard became 
forsaken and neglected. But in 1897 the selectmen, acting 
under the session laws of that year, repaired the wall, set 
an iron gate, and transformed the cemetery into a very re- 
spectable condition. 

Hudson Center Cemetery 

When the old cemetery at the Center had become 
nearly filled with graves, the necessity for a new yard in 
that vicinity became apparent. Accordingly an association 
was formed for that purpose in 1849, and at its first meet- 
ing, December 24, a permanent organization was effected. 
By-laws were adopted and officers chosen. The signatures 
to the by-laws were : 

Eli Hamblet, Reuben Greeley, 

Jefferson Smith, John M. Farnum, 

Joseph B. Dane, Jeremiah Smith, 

Daniel M. Greeley, James Melvin, 

Amory Burnham, Dustin B. Smith, 

Thomas Smith, 2d, Henry Smith, Jr., 



CEMETERIES AND BURIAL GROUNDS 419 

James Smith, 2d, William F. Lewis, 

Noyes Tenney, Kimball Smith. 

The officers elected were: 

Jefferson Smith, Joseph B. Dane, James Smith, 2d, 
Dustin B. Smith, Daniel W. Robinson, Directors; Amory 
Burnham, Treasurer; Eli Hamblet, Clerk. 

Land for the use and purpose was donated by Reuben 
Greeley, Esq., and it was inclosed later by a substantial 
stone wall. Tastefully laid out into lots and streets, less 
than half a mile westerly from Hudson Center, the new 
cemetery is very convenient to the people of that vicinity. 
The expense incurred was paid from the sale of lots. After 
the Nashua and Rochester railroad was laid out, an addi- 
tion was made to the cemetery by the purchase of the land 
between the original bounds and the railroad land, making 
a total area of about three acres. This cemetery has been 
kept in an excellent condition, and a large number of beau- 
tiful monuments have been erected here. 

Sunnyside Cemetery 

This cemetery is situated on the northerly side of the 
road leading from the bridge to Hudson Center, about 
three-fourths of a mile from the former place. The first 
meeting of the Hudson Cemetery Association, as the soci- 
ety was named, was held at the house of Ethan Willough- 
by, December 6, 1845. Articles of association were signed 
at this meeting, and it was agreed to purchase a piece of 
land from William Hadley, situated on the north side of 
the road leading from the North meeting-house to Mr. 
Hadley's dwelling house. This plot was about two hun- 
dred feet deep and one hundred and thirteen feet wide, and 
designed to be used forever as a cemetery. The articles 
of association were signed by 

Ethan Willoughby, David Burns, 

Paul Colburn, Abiather Winn, 

Cyrus Warren, Mark Willoughby, 



420 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Nathan Marshall, Benjamin A. Merrill, 

William Hadley, William Blodgett, 

David Clement. 
There is no record found of any meeting being held 
for several years after the organization of the association. 
Still it is probable that meetings were held, as the follow- 
ing account has been preserved : 

Money Paid Out 

June 1, 1846, paid William Hadley for land $13.00 

November 3, 1849, paid order of Cyrus Warren 4.00 

7, " paid order of Charles W. Clement . . 19.00 

January 5, 1852, paid order of Ethan Willoughby .... 25700 

" interest on same 6.50 

The money paid Mr. Willoughby was undoubtedly for 
the stone wall with which he inclosed the ground, as it ap- 
pears, in 1851, and incidental expenses. 

The sale of the first lot recorded is Lot No. 17, to Al- 
fred Cummings, April 8, 1851. Previous to 1885 all the 
lots in the cemetery had been sold, and during that year 
one acre of land on the east side was purchased, and the 
wall removed so as to include this addition. The new 
ground was then laid out into lots, and since then all of 
these lots have been taken up. In 1910, a half acre of land 
was secured of George W. Marshall for a second addition, 
and this has been improved. 

The incorporators at their meeting of organization 
voted that the yard should be called "The Hudson Ceme- 
tery," and therefore that is the legal name, but of late 
years it has been generally known as "Sunnyside Ceme- 
tery.'' It contains many fine monuments, but unfortu- 
nately the adjoining grounds do not offer, at present, very 
favorable opportunity for further enlargement. 

Catholic Cemetery 

This cemetery, situated on the east side of the Derry 
road, about three-fourths of a mile north-easterly of Tay- 



CEMETERIES AND BURIAL GROUNDS 421 

lor's Falls bridge, was laid out and consecrated by the 
Church of the Immaculate Conception, of Nashua, in or 
about 1857. 

Ten acres of land were bought for the purpose of a 
cemetery, extending easterly from the Derry road about 
three-fourths of a mile. Excepting about an acre on the 
east side that is swampy and unfit for cemetery purposes, 
nearly all of the lots of this yard have been taken up. With 
few exceptions, the interments made here are of persons 
who were non-residents, principally from Nashua, and num- 
ber several thousands. In 1907, a strip of land one hun- 
dred feet wide was secured on the north side and an en- 
largement made to this cemetery. 

Cemetery of the Unknown 

In addition to the eight burial places already described, 
there is one more in town, humble and unpretentious though 
it is, destitute of a monument or head stone to give an in- 
scription or record as to the names of those persons whose 
bodies filled the graves beneath the many mounds, which 
are still visible, but diminishing year by year. This yard 
formerly belonged to the old town poor farm, which, 
situated on the Derry road at the north-east part of the 
town, the second farm on that road south-westerly of the 
Londonderry line, was bought by Hudson in 1828, in the 
days when the resident poor were kept at the town farm. 
The town maintained this farm for forty years, when, in 
1868, it was sold and the few paupers boarded out at the 
town's expense. So far as it is possible to ascertain from 
the records, the number of unfortunate inmates of the alms- 
house during those two score years, varied from six to sev- 
enteen, the average being from ten to twelve. Many of 
these eventually found their last resting-places in unmarked 
graves in this Potter's field. Not a few of them had been 
prosperous citizens at some time in their lives, but had met 
with reverses of fortune, and thus their declining years 



422 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

were passed in darkness, and the closing scene became one 
of pathos and lasting sadness. 

The number of deaths at the alms-house during the 
forty years of its occupancy is impossible to be ascertained 
at this time, but the average was probably more than one 
a year. The remains of these, or at least a majority of 
them, were interred in the pasture, some distance west 
from the highway, without any identifying marks to dis- 
close the name of the person sleeping away the years in an 
unmarked grave, where the feeding cattle were allowed to 
roam at their will, trampling upon the mounds of those 
who once had their friends and loved ones, but whose mem- 
ories are now lost to the world. 

Beyond dispute this was an inexpensive way to dispose 
of the poor worn-out bodies, but would it not have been 
much more creditable to the town of Hudson to have had 
these unfortunates interred in some ground set apart for 
that purpose? If there could have been no inscribed head 
stones, the town could at least have had the graves num- 
bered and recorded, so that in coming years the name of 
each occupant might be ascertained if nothing more. 



CHAPTER XXXI 

The Foster Fund — Surplus Revenue 

In our description of the Center cemetery we have had 
occasion to speak of the generous assistance given its im- 
provement by Mr. John Foster, Jr. John Foster, Sr., who 
was an inhabitant of this town, kept a grocery store in the 
Eli Hamblet house at Hudson Center for about nineteen 
years, from 1811 to 1829 inclusive, where he was generally 
liked and seems to have had a good business, considering 
the size of the place. He removed from town prior to 1830. 

Mr. Foster married for his second wife, Miss Lucy 
Hastings, of Bolton, Mass. Four children were born to 
them while they lived in this town: John Hastings Fos- 
ter, born December 11, 1811; Emily Foster, born August 
25, 1813; John Foster, born December 30, 1817; George 
Foster, born September 23, 1821. 

Of these children, the eldest, John Hastings Foster, 
died April 26, 1818, in his seventh year, and was buried in 
the old cemetery at Hudson Center. 

John Foster, Jr., became a wealthy merchant in Bos- 
ton, where he died in 1897. Previous to his decease he 
executed a will under date of November 21, 1896, in which 
he provided for many very substantial bequests to cities, 
towns, public institutes, many of them charitable, and for 
other purposes. In this will he showed that he still re- 
membered his native town: 

Twenty-third — "I give and bequeath to the town of Hudson, in the 
state of New Hampshire, the sum of five thousand dollars to be held and 
invested as a fund, the interest and income of which are to be expended 
under the direction of such person or persons as the inhabitants of said 
town may from time to time designate, in procuring any needed medicines 
and proper delicacies for sick or infirm inhabitants of said town, and in 
relieving the wants of worthy poor and needy inhabitants of said town 
who are not paupers." 

423 



424 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

This came before the town as one of the articles to be 
acted upon at its regular town meeting March 8, 1898. 

It was thankfully and unanimously accepted by the 
town, and Kimball Webster, Hiram Cummings and Henry 
O. Smith were appointed a committee to take charge of 
the same. 

The amount of the legacy was soon after received 
from the executors and was invested by the committee in 
the town of Farmington, N. H., four per cent bonds. The 
•income has since been distributed among the worthy poor 
of the town, according to the provisions of Mr. Foster's 
will. It has apparently been the means of relieving or pre- 
venting much suffering and has caused the happy smile of 
gladness to cover many despondent faces, as well as be- 
stowing sincere thankfulness for the thoughtful generosity 
of Mr. Foster. 

Surplus Revenue 

In 1836 the United States Congress enacted a law 
transferring $37,468,859.97, the surplus revenue, to the sev- 
eral states. This money had accumulated from the sale of 
public lands. 

The New Hampshire Legislature, at the November 
session, 1836, passed an act authorizing the state treasurer 
to receive the public funds and give a certificate in behalf 
of the state that the amount should be safely kept and re- 
paid whenever called for. 

In accordance with the congressional provision, New 
Hampshire was to receive its share in four regular instal- 
ments, January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1, 1837. 
The first three, amounting to $669,086.79, were received by 
the state, but the fourth was never paid. The state also 
passed an act to deposit this money with the several towns 
in the following compound ratio: One-half of each town's 
share was to be made out according to its proportion in the 
last assessment of public taxes, and the remaining half ac- 



THE FOSTER FUND — SURPLUS REVENUE 425 

cording to the number of ratable polls in 1836. The towns 
were to receive their several shares after voting to accept 
the money, pledging their faith to safely keep and repay it, 
and appointing an agent to receive it and execute a certifi- 
cate of deposit. 

This certificate, to be signed by the town agent, re- 
cited, first, that the town had complied with the conditions 
of the law; second, that it had appointed an agent, and 
third, that the state treasurer had paid him the money. 
The agent also certified that the sum had been deposited 
with the town, and that the town was legally bound, and its 
faith solemnly pledged for the safe keeping and repayment 
of the same. 

The law compelled the state treasurer to pay over the 
amounts on receipt of the certificate from the agent; made 
the towns accountable for the money, and provided that in 
case they did not repay it on request of the treasurer he 
could issue his execution for it and collect it of any citizen 
who could have redress from other citizens. It was made 
unlawful for the towns to appropriate or expend these funds ; 
in case they did, double the amount could be recovered in 
an action of debt against them, one-half for the county and 
the other half for the complainant. However, they might 
loan the money, and appropriate the income for such pur- 
poses as they saw fit. Naturally the towns were eager for 
the money. 

At a town meeting February 13, 1837, it was 

Voted to accept their proportion of the public money of the United 
States which may be deposited with the State. 

Voted that the Agent which the town shall choose be authorized to 
pledge the faith of the town for the safe keeping and repayment thereof, 
by executing a certificate of deposit agreeably to the form prescribed in 
an Act prescribing for the distribution of the Public money of the United 
States which shall be deposited with this state, passed January 13, 1837. 

Chose David Burns agent for this town for to obtain the money of 
the State Treasurer and execute the certificate of deposit. 

Chose David Burns, Amos Hills and James Pierce, a committee to 
put the above mentioned money to use, and to take care of the same; to 
continue in office until the annual meeting in March, 1838. 



426 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

On March 31, 1837, the town "Voted to authorize the 
selectmen to borrow two hundred dollars of the surplus 
money." 

March 14, 1838, the town "Chose James Pierce, agent, 
to take care of the surplus money, and that the Inhabitants 
have the preference before others." 

In town meeting assembled on March 13, 1839, it was 

Voted to take $600. of the surplus money — principal — to pay town 
debts. 

March 10, 1840, it was "Voted that James Pierce shall 
have charge of the surplus money. 

"Voted to take all the interest money of our Surplus 
money for Schools. 

"Voted to take $400. of the Surplus money to defray 
town charges." 

On June 13, 1840, the town "Voted to repair the road 
leading from John Gillis' to Taylor's Falls Bridge.* 

"Voted to appoint a committee to repair the road, build 
a fence and plant shrubbery, the expense to be defrayed by 
taking the Surplus money in connection with the tax from 
the Taylor's Falls Bridge. 

"Chose William Hadley, Parker Smith & John Gillis 
as a committee." 

On March 9, 1841, it was voted by the town "Not to 
expend any of the Surplus money, neither principal nor 
interest." 



* The requirement for special repairs upon this road was occasioned by sand being blown 
into it to a considerable depth, from the land on the north side, which, at that time, was a 
veritable desert of blowing sand fiom this road to the Ferry road. A tight board fence was 
built on the north side of the road, extending from near the Gillis buildings on the eait to 
near the top of the hill on the west, and a row of willow trees was set out on each side ol the 
highway. The board fence as constructed was about six feet in height. These willows flour- 
ished abundantly, and in a few years became very beautilul as shade trees bordering the 
roadside. 

Before many years, the south side row, owing to their rapid growth, became detrimental 
to the productiveness of the land abutting the road, owned by Mr. Gillis, and they were re- 
moved. Those on the north side were removed, a few at a time, as the abutting land was re- 
claimed and utilized for building lots. The remaining trees were removed in 1895, when the 
electric line was constructed over this road. 



THE FOSTER FUND — SURPLUS REVENUE 427 

March 8, 1842, "Voted that the surplus revenue be 
divided equally among the school districts which shall be 
kept as a permanent literary fund until called for by the 
state, using annually the interest accruing therefrom. The 
2-3 of a District receiving 2-3 as much as a whole District. 
Each school District shall be responsible for the money 
received." 

The school districts received some more than two hun- 
dred dollars each 

The money was kept by the several districts for a 
time, and the interest from it expended annually for school 
purposes. After a longer or shorter time most of the dis- 
tricts expended their respective shares in constructing or 
repairing school buildings. 

Number Six received about thirteen dollars interest 
annually from the agent who had the funds in charge, until 
1853, when the district erected a new school house, and 
voted to use the surplus money in defraying the building 
expenses. Several other districts expended theirs in a 
similar manner, until, in 1885, when the town adopted the 
"Town System" of schools, only two of the ten districts 
retained their surplus revenue money — numbers Three and 
Five. 

Collections from the sale of public lands having exten- 
sively fallen off about 1837, is said to have been the reason 
that the fourth instalment was never paid. 

The United States has never called upon the states 
for the return of the surplus revenue, and it is not likely 
that it ever will do so. 



CHAPTER XXXII 

Additional Church History 
Congregational and Presbyterian Churches 

Any original church records that may have once ex- 
isted, in relation to the two most ancient churches organ- 
ized in this town, of an earlier date than 1796, excepting 
such as are to be found in the town records, have been 
mislaid or lost. 

The founding of the Congregational church November 
30, 1737, has been traced in a former chapter. Its first 
minister, the Rev. Nathaniel Merrill, was the son of Dea. 
Isaac Merrill, and was born in West Newbury, Mass., 
March 1, 1713, graduated at Harvard College in 1732, and 
was ordained as pastor over the infant church. The Pres- 
byterian church was probably organized at the North 
meeting-house as early as 1771, with the Rev. John Strick- 
land ordained as its pastor July 3, 1774. 

The church records begin with the settlement in the 
pastorate of Rev. Jabez Pond Fisher, February 24, 1796. 
Elsewhere in this history may be found copious extracts 
from the town records relating to the building by the town 
of the first and second meeting-houses, the building of the 
North meeting-house, by the Presbyterians, and of the 
South meeting-house, by the Congregationalists. 

At the time Mr. Fisher was ordained, the members of 
the Congregational church numbered a little over fifty, and 
while he was pastor, about five years, thirty-six were ad- 
mitted. At the end of his pastorate in 1801, it was found 
that there was an arrears on his annual salary of .£310, over 
one thousand dollars, or to be exact, $1,013.92. He asked 
for a dismissal, which was granted, and the town paid the 
deficit, members of the Presbyterian and Baptist churches 
428 



ADDITIONAL CHURCH HISTORY 429 

being exempt from any part of this tax according to a vote 
of the town, passed October 30, 1797. 

For fifteen years, following the close of Mr. Fisher's 
pastorate, the church was inactive and very few members 
were added. Preaching was sustained but a small part of 
the time, until October 15, 1816, when the Congregational 
church united with the members of the Presbyterian de- 
nomination and organized a Presbyterian church under the 
Londonderry Presbytery. The names of only eleven Pres- 
byterians and thirteen Congregationalists are given as form- 
ing the union. But soon after the new organization was 
accomplished many former members of the old churches 
were admitted. 

Though there was no settled minister until 1825, 
preaching was maintained nearly all of the time, and this 
was divided between the two meeting-houses, twenty-four 
Sabbaths at the North meeting-house and the balance at 
the South house, so as to accommodate the people living in 
the different parts. During this period the pulpit was sup- 
plied by the Rev. Mr. Wheelock, Rev. Samuel Harris, Rev. 
Mr. Starkweather, and others. 

November 2, 1825, Rev. William K. Talbot was or- 
dained under an agreement that he should remain as pastor 
for five years at a salary of four hundred dollars annually. 
At this time the church had a membership of about ninety, 
but during Mr. Talbot's pastorate at the end of four years, 
more than one hundred new members had been admitted. 
But his salary was so much in arrears that he requested his 
dismissal. The church, claiming that he had agreed to re- 
main another year, refused to grant his request. There- 
upon he appealed to the Presbytery. The church, still op- 
posed to his release, chose Elder Jonathan Hills as a com- 
mittee to attend the Presbytery and there oppose his dis- 
charge by that body. A lengthy article was submitted 
showing why Mr. Talbot should not be allowed to go. 
Among these arguments were the following: 

"The subject to which we have to call your attention 
is one of the deepest moment to us, one which tires our 



430 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

hearts and brings darkness and discouragement on our 
future prospects. 

"After being destitute of the settled ministry for 
about thirty-six years, through your beneficence we were 
blessed with a faithful pastor, whose labors God has been 
pleased to own in a most wonderful manner, and we may 
safely say that, that union which marked our proceedings 
on the day of his consecration has not in the least been 
marred by a closer and more intimate acquaintance. . . . 
The Rev. Mr. Talbot commenced his ministry and nearly 
$350 was subscribed for his support. 

"On the 2. of Nov. 1825 he was ordained to the pas- 
toral charge of the church and congregation, and the Pres- 
bytery then became responsible for only $50. 

"The first year we were negligent in collecting the 
sum subscribed until the revival of religion commenced 
and then neither minister or people had much time to think 
of the consequence of an arrearage and another year passed 
before much was collected. 

"By this time we began to see that unhappy conse- 
quences would attend. 

"Many had died; out of the town sixty deaths had oc- 
curred in one year, and ten or more of the best families 
had providentially removed to other places of residence — 
five of whom were elders or elders elect. 

"We also found that there was not the sum of $350 
which could be annually collected by reason of failures, 
deaths and removals, and a portion that was subscribed, 
because of poverty, could not be collected" The request 
of Mr. Talbot was granted by the Presbytery, when he re- 
moved from town. 

After the resignation of Mr. Talbot the church had no 
settled minister for fifteen years, but had irregular preach- 
ing by different ministers, among whom were Rev. Samuel 
H. Tolman, a Methodist minister, Rev. Samuel Harris, 
Rev. Mr. Wheeler, Rev. Mr. Lawrence, Rev. Willard Hol- 
brook, and others. 



ADDITIONAL CHURCH HISTORY 431 

At an ecclesiastical council composed of ministers and 
delegates from several Congregational churches convened 
at the South meeting-house September 29, 1841, the Pres- 
byterian church organization, after an existence of twenty- 
five years was dissolved, and its members were organized 
into a Congregational church to be called the Evangelical 
Congregational Church of Hudson, N. H. The organiza- 
tion adopted the articles of faith of that denomination. The 
names of twenty-six members were enrolled at the time of 
its organization, and sixty others united as members of the 
church within the next two years. 

A new meeting-house was built in 1842. It was fifty 
by forty feet, and was located about one-half mile east of 
Taylor's Falls bridge, near the Methodist meeting-house, 
erected two years before. 

May 31, 1844, the church and society extended a call 
to the Rev. William Page, who had been their temporary 
minister for a considerable time past. He accepted at a 
salary of $450 a year, and was ordained as pastor, August 
14 of the same year. • 

Mr. Page bought land within a short distance of the 
meeting-house, upon which he erected a residence, where 
he lived while he remained in town. His pastoral relations 
continued until 1852, when his request for a dismissal was 
granted by an ecclesiastical council, June 28 of that year. 
During his administration about thirty members united 
with the church, 

The Rev. Daniel L. French commenced preaching as 
a supply the first Sabbath in November, 1852, and remained 
until his decease July 20, 1860. Many united with the 
church during his pastorate of eight years. 

In summing up the vital facts relating to the history 
of this church in Hudson, the Rev. D. L. French, in the 
History of New Hampshire Churches, has this to say of 
this church, beginning with its first pastor: 

There was no special revival under Mr. Merrill's ministry, but some 
were added to the church by letter, and some by profession. The princi- 



432 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

pal difficulty which existed in the latter part of his ministry arose from 
disagreement between the Presbyterian and Congregational view of 
church polity. 

He was considered a good man, although not a great preacher. He 
died the same year that Mr. Fisher was settled. Mr. Fisher's ministry 
was not blessed with special revivals. 

From Mr. Fisher's ministry to the settlement of Mr. Talbot there was 
a great deal of division in town, arising from the Baptist and also the 
Presbyterian and Congregational views. Some years previous to Mr. 
Talbot's ministry the two churches had united under the Presbyterian 
form of government. So that the state of things in town seemed more 
settled, and there was a good deal of revival interest the four years that 
he was here. 

A portion of the church was very strongly attached to him, and were 
unwilling that he should leave. There was a good deal of excitement 
under his preaching, and probably many false hopes indulged. He was 
in some respects a peculiar man. 

From his ministry to Mr. Page's there was some division. Prior to 
Mr. Page's ministry the church agreed to give up the Presbyterian plat- 
form and become Congregational. Mr. Page's ministry was blessed with 
very pleasant revivals. 

From 1861 to 1868 the pulpit was supplied the greater 
part of the time by Addison Heald, Rev. Austin Richards 
of Nashua, Rev. S. D. Pike of Nashua, Rev. Benjamin 
Howe and Rev. Silas M. Blanchard, the last two of whom 
became permanent residents of this town, and also mem- 
bers of this church. 

For eight years succeeding, no preaching was sustained 
by this church or society. Then, October 2, 1876, Rev. 
John W. Haley began to supply the pulpit. Soon after, the 
society applied to the New Hampshire Home Missionary 
Society, from which they received material aid. Many 
were united with the church. Mr. Haley continued to sup- 
ply the pulpit here until November, 1878, when on the 24th 
of that month he preached his farewell sermon. 

Some difficulties had arisen between Mr. Haley and 
his people, upon which they were not able to agree. An 
ecumenical council was called, which convened at the meet- 
ing-house, December 29, 1878, which gave Mr. Haley a 
dismissal. 




REUBEN GREELEY, Esq. 



ADDITIONAL CHURCH HISTORY 433 

Rev. S. D. Austin, of Nashua, commenced to supply 
the pulpit soon after the dismissal of Mr. Haley, and he 
continued in that position until 1892. Rev. Fred E. Winn, 
a native of this town, the son of William F. and Lucy M. 
(Richardson) Winn, born December 14, 1863, supplied for 
nearly a year following Mr. Austin, 1892-3. 

Rev. Franklin P. Chapin became a resident of Hudson 
in 1893, and preached here as the Congregationalist minis- 
ter until 1907. During the pastorate of Mr. Chapin, in 
1906, the meeting-house, which was built in 1842, was raised 
several feet, a vestry made in the basement, new windows 
supplied, a modern heating arrangement put in, and many 
other repairs and improvements made. These improve- 
ments incurred an expense to the society of nearly $3,000. 

Rev. Edgar F. Blanchard followed Mr. Chapin, and 
came here in 1907. He was an unmarried man, but made 
his home in this town. He remained here until 1909. 

Rev. Lewis E. Perry commenced to supply the pulpit 
soon after Mr. Blanchard left. A convenient parsonage, 
with modern improvements, was erected on Library street 
in the summer of 1910, and Mr. Perry removed his family 
there. He remains at the head of this church. 

The Baptist Church and Society 

The Baptist church was organized May 1, 1805, with 
sixty-five members who had been dismissed from the Bap- 
tist church in Londonderry, of which they had constituted 
a branch for several years, acting in harmony with that 
church, but sustaining preaching and the ordinances of the 
church. 

The church was organized by an ecclesiastical council, 
called for that purpose, at the house of Thomas Senter in 
the north-east part of the town, and was called "The Bap- 
tist Church of Christ of Nottingham West." 

The following are the names of the sixty-five members 
of the new church : 



•434 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Maria Hobbs, 
James Eastman, 
Zacheus Greelee, 
Lucy Greelee, 
Polly Sargent, 
Thomas Senter, 
Ebenezer Wood, 
Moses Greele, 
Joseph Rovvell, 
Barnabas Taylor, 
Esther Greele, 
Mrs. Had ley, 
Mrs. Atwood, 
Mrs. Blodgett, 
Polly Farmer, 
Reuben Winn, 
Mrs. Dakin, 
Stephen Hadley, 
Robert Douglass, 
David Cummings, 
Mrs. Wilson, 
Richard Haselton, 
Polly Gibson, 
Mrs. Tarbell, 
Samson Kidder, 
David Robinson, 
Noah Robinson, 
Susanna Davis, 
Lucy Dinnis, 
Lydia Page, 
Betsey Campbell, 
Phebe Miles, 
Rachel Merrill. 
For several years after its organization the church did 
not enjoy the labors of a settled pastor, but the pulpit was 
supplied by Rev. Thomas Paul, (colored), Rev. Robert 
Jones, Rev. Samuel Ambrose, and Joshua Young. 



Joseph Hobbs, Jr., 
Hannah Townes, 
George Mentor, 
Aaron Senter, 
Mehitabel Tarbox, 
Esther Senter, 
Eunice Senter, 
Polly Wood, 
Polly Greele, 
Joseph Chase, 
Mehitabel Taylor, 
Moses Hadley, 
Tabitha Merrill, 
Anna Blodgett, 
Ashael Blodgett, 
Asahel Blodgett, Jr. 
Susanna Pollard, 
Justus Dakin, 
Patty Harda, 
Hannah Hadley, 
Mrs. Douglass, 
Mrs. Cummings, 
Mrs. Tallant, 
Jerusha Wyman, 
Lydia Richardson, 
Benjamin Abbott, 
Joanna Kidder, 
Martha Robinson, 
Rebekah Robinson, 
Hannah Robinson, 
Nathaniel Currier, 
Hannah Marshall, 



ADDITIONAL CHURCH HISTORY 435 

The labors of Rev. Thomas Paul were especially effec- 
tive, and many united with the church under his preaching. 

The first settled pastor of the church was Rev. Ezra 
Kendall, who assumed charge November 3, 1808, and re- 
signed March 5, 1810. 

It appears that the meetings were held at the North 
meeting-house when it was not in use by the Presbyterians 
or Congregationalists, and sometimes at the South meet- 
ing-house. 

After Mr. Kendall resigned, the pulpit was supplied 
by Rev. Isaiah Stone, Rev. John Perkins, and others, until 
1814. 

June 19, 1811, the Baptist society was incorporated, 
and all the right of the proprietors to the North meeting- 
house and the lot of land upon which it stood, was con- 
veyed to it November 26, of the same year. The pews were 
owned by individuals as personal property, and their own- 
ership was not affected by this conveyance. 

Rev. Daniel Merrill, who had several years previous, 
probably as early as 1793, preached in town as a Con- 
gregationalist minister, was invited to the pastorate of 
the church in May, 1814. The following extract is from 
the centennial address, delivered by Rev. Brinton M. Web- 
ster of Lyme, N. H., May 1, 1905: 

"There is a copy of Mr. Merrill's acceptance in the 
record book, which occupies several pages and is indeed a 
remarkable composition, showing that he was a man of no 
small talent. We pause here to say a few words concern- 
ing him. 

"He enlisted for three years in the Continental army, 
and after serving probably that length of time, began a 
literary course at the age of nineteen, which extended seven 
years and included a course at Dartmouth College, from 
which he was graduated in 1789. 

"Some time after his graduation he became pastor of a 
large Pedo-Baptist church in Sedgewick, Maine, where he 
remained for several years; but having, with most of his 



436 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

church, been converted to the Baptist sentiments, he and 
they received baptism at the hands of Dr. Baldwin and 
Elisha Williams in 1805, and it became a Baptist church. 
Some of the older people of this town have related to some 
now living, that Rev. Mr. Merrill was once a Congrega- 
tional minister in this place, but that when he changed his 
views, the Pedo-Baptists became very bitter against him. 

"This accounts for some things that have been said of 
him in other histories, that he was a zealous and able de- 
fender of the sentiments of the Baptist denomination. His 
controversial writings exhibit discrimination, scholarship 
and untiring zeal in the cause in which he felt himself par- 
ticularly commissioned. He made the distinguishing sent- 
iments of the Baptist very prominent, and it was not diffi- 
cult for a stranger, having heard him preach one sermon, 
to decide with what Christian denomination he had cast 
his lot. 

"While in Nottingham West, in 1819, he wrote a vol- 
ume of two hundred pages at the request of Pedo-Baptist 
churches in New York, stating his views of the Baptist 
doctrine and his reasons for adopting them. 

"During his stay in Nottingham West he was chosen 
to deliver the election sermon before the governor, council, 
senate and house of representatives of the state of New 
Hampshire, June 5, 1817. His subject on that day was 
'The Kingdom of God.' His name is found as chairman 
of a committee from Maine, then a part of Massachusetts, 
who obtained a charter for an educational institution, which 
afterwards became Waterville College, and then Colby 
University. 

"One of his sons, Rev. Thomas W. Merrill, assisted in 
starting a school which led to the founding of Kalamazoo, 
Michigan, College. Another son, Moses Merrill, was a 
missionary to the Indians, writing a history of the Gospels, 
in the Indian language for their instruction. Others of 
his children settled in this town, Joseph Merrill, and Jo- 
anna, a daughter, who married Reuben Greeley. 



ADDITIONAL CHURCH HISTORY 437 

"After Mr. Merrill had settled it became necessary to 
make choice of two deacons, and October 30, 1816, Moses 
Greeley and David Burns were chosen, both serving faith- 
fully in that capacity for many years. It is said that their 
official relations were marked with uncommon unanimity 
and entire satisfaction to the church, until their resignation 
in 1834, on account of declining years. Dea. Moses Gree- 
ley died August 15, 1848, aged 84 years, and Dea. David 
Burns died April 20, 1876, aged 87 years and seven months, 
about sixty years after he was chosen to the deaconship. 

"Dea. Moses Greeley presented the Baptist church 
with the first bell hung in this town, and also the commun- 
ion set which was used until recently. The bell was cracked 
several years ago and replaced by a new one. 

"Dea. David Burns presented the church with the 
clock over the main entrance. 

"At a church meeting held November 22, 1817, it was 
voted to allow the use of the meeting-house 'the second 
Lord's day in February, May, August and November, and 
also the first fifth Lord's day which shall come in any 
month of the year,' to the Presbyterians, provided 'we 
have their meeting house when they have ours.' Joseph 
Winn, Reuben Greeley and Elder Merrill were chosen a 
committee to confer with the Presbyterians and inform 
them of the action of the Baptist church. It was also pro- 
vided that their meeting-house should be accepted by the 
former at confirmation times and conference, with the un- 
derstanding they should enjoy the same privilege with the 
Presbyterian house. 

"This exchange of privileges should be explained by 
saying that about two years before, on the 15th of October, 
1816, the Congregational church united with the Presby- 
terians, there being eleven of the latter denomination and 
thirteen of the former. These parties owned and occupied 
the South meeting-house, and still owned pews and desired 
to worship a part of the time in the North meeting-house, 
for the accommodation of a part of their people. In Oc- 



438 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

tober, 1818, a bond was given by the Presbyterians to the 
Baptist society, giving them the right to hold services in 
their meeting-house at certain times. Thus two denomi- 
nations worshipped at both meeting-houses, alternately, 
when the Baptists were at the South the Presbyterians 
were at the North." 

Mr. Merrill resigned in September, 1820, and during 
the next two years the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Isaac 
Wescott and Rev. Otis Robinson. 

In May, 1823, an invitation was extended to Rev. Jos- 
eph Davis to take the pastoral charge of the church after 
ordination. He accepted and was ordained June 18, 1823. 
Under his ministry the church enjoyed a good degree of 
prosperity and several persons were baptized. He resigned 
November 5, 1824. 

Then there was another period of over three years in 
which the church had no settled pastor, although the desk 
was supplied most of the time. Among the supplies were 
Rev. Otis Robinson, Rev. George Evans, Rev. Samuel 
Elliott and Rev. John Peacock. 

In the winter of 1827 there was an extensive revival, 
when sixty-one persons are reported as being baptized in 
the year named, it being the largest number in any year 
of the church's history. 

In April, 1828, Rev. Benjamin Dean assumed the pas- 
torate, but the outcome seems to have been an unhappy 
one. His ministry is reported as "a dark and trying time 
for the church." His connection with the church termi- 
nated under painful circumstances June 26, 1830. He was 
deposed by an ecclesiastical council and excluded from the 
ministry for immoral conduct. 

Following this unpleasant experience the church re- 
mained "in a tired and desolate state, without an under 
shepherd for nearly four years." During the period Rev. 
Otis Robinson, Stephen Pillsbury, Amos Haynes and 
others supplied the pulpit. 

It is only just, to say that Mr. Dean afterwards made a 



ADDITIONAL CHURCH HISTORY 439 

public confession of his wrong-doing, and asked forgiveness 
of the Baptist and Presbyterian churches, both of which 
were present at the South meeting-house. He had previ- 
ously asked forgiveness of the former church. In after 
years he was restored to the membership of the Baptist 
church. 

The next pastor was Rev. Bartlett Pease, who assumed 
charge of the church in March, 1834, and his pastoral la- 
bors terminated in April, 1839. Thirty-six are reported to 
have been baptized during these five years, and in 1838 
Enoch S. Marsh and Benjamin Kidder were chosen dea- 
cons. 

During the summer and autumn of 1839 the desk was 
supplied by Rev. Stephen Pillsbury. The succeeding reg- 
ular pastor was the Rev. John Upton, who commenced his 
labors in November, 1839, and resigned in August, 1841. 

The attention of the church and society had been for 
several years turned to the object of having a more conven- 
ient house of worship, but a difference of opinion respect- 
ing location, with some other circumstances, had prevented 
any decisive action. In 1841 an agreement was reached, 
a suitable site selected, and a deed secured from Reuben 
Greeley to the Baptist Society, so that the house was erect- 
ed and dedicated that year. 

In September, 1841, Rev. Jonathan Herrick assumed 
the pastoral care of the church. He was a very zealous 
laborer in his calling, and many united with the church 
under his ministry. In 1842, forty-one were baptized. 

Mr. Herrick was dismissed at his own request, Sep- 
tember, 1843, and the desk was supplied for a few months 
by William H. Eaton, a student connected with Brown 
University. On December 4, 1843, Rev. Joseph Storer 
began to preach for the church as a supply, and continued 
as such until January 1, 1845, when he became the regular 
pastor. 

During the year 1845, a joint stock company made up 
principally from members of the church, built a parsonage 



440 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

for the accommodation of the minister, which was a few 
years later presented to the society. 

Mr. Storer was a very zealous and faithful minister, 
loved by all connected with his church and society, and 
universally esteemed and respected by his townsmen. He 
was retained in his position as pastor until May, 1855, 
longer by nearly five years than any other pastor of this 
church, when, in consequence ot failing health, he was com- 
pelled to resign. Among the aged and prominent mem- 
bers removed by death during his pastorate were Dea. 
Moses Greeley, Amos Hills, Abigail Dakin, Betsey Cutter, 
Rebecca Hadley and Abigail Pollard. Twelve were bap- 
tized in 1849. 

It was during the pastorate of Mr. Storer, about 1850, 
that the first organ was purchased. Dr. David O. Smith, 
then a newly settled physician in town, was chosen as 
music director. The following is an extract from a resolu- 
tion passed May 27, 1855: 

Resolved, That in Brother Storer we realize the enlightened and dis- 
criminating Gospel preacher, the devoted and affectionate pastor, whose 
sole aim is to promote the kingdom of Christ in the salvation of souls, also 
a judicious counselor, a sincere and confiding friend, as well as a beloved 
and respected citizen. 

In 1853, Isaac D. Colburn was appointed Ly the church 
"to study for the ministry and use his gifts in public. " He 
became a minister, and served as a missionary In Burmah 
for many years, but returned, and died in Nashua in 1907. 

Rev. W. H. Dalrymple began to supply the pulpit of 
this church in June, 1855, and was settled as its pastor in 
the following August, retaining the position until March, 
1858. A large number of young people united with the 
church under his pastorate. 

The next pastor was Rev. George L. Putnam, who was 
ordained July 16, 1858, remaining until November, 1863, 
when he resigned. 

During Mr. Putnam's pastorate, the parsonage, built in 
1845, was presented to the society. In 1860, extensive and 



ADDITIONAL CHURCH HISTORY 441 

substantial repairs and alterations were made to the audi- 
torium of the church, the pastor contributing of his own 
handiwork the pulpit. 

Following the resignation of Mr. Putnam, Rev. Bart- 
lett Pease, a resident minister, supplied the pulpit for 
nearly one year. 

Rev. Henry Stetson was pastor from October, 1864, to 
June 1, 1868, when he was dismissed at his own request. 
During his pastorate Dea. Enoch S. Marsh died, December 
19, 1865, and Dea. Benjamin Kidder resigned. Hiram 
Cummings and John M. Thompson were chosen to fill these 
vacancies October 4, 1866. 

November 1, 1868, a call was extended to Rev. A. W. 
Chaffm, which was accepted by him. Public recognition 
services were held December 23. 

Mr. Chaffin gained the love and respect of the entire 
community. Thirty-three were baptized during his pas- 
torate. In 1872, Mr. Chafnn became quite feeble physi- 
cally, and his mental faculties were impaired, but he was 
retained as pastor until April, 1873. He soon removed 
from the town, but his health continued to decline, and he 
died soon after his removal. 

Rev. George A. Glines, the next pastor, held that posi- 
tion from September 1, 1873, to April 1, 1875, when he 
resigned. 

Rev. George W. Kinney assumed the pastorate Janu- 
ary 1, 1876, and resigned in 1879, after which time the pul- 
pit was supplied by several ministers until May, 1881, when 
an invitation was extended to Rev. William P. Bartlett, who 
accepted. He was ordained June 28, 1881, by a council 
called by the church, and he was dismissed at his own re- 
quest in March, 1883. 

Lewis L. Fish was chosen deacon October 12, 1881, 
and Eli Hamblet in April, 1882. 

Rev. T. M. Merriman was next called to officiate in 
May, 1883. He remained with the church a little over 
three years, when he resigned October 3, 1886. 



442 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

A week later, October 10, the Rev. Charles C. Spear 
was invited to become the pastor, and he accepted the 
offer. During the years 1887 and 1888 extensive repairs 
and alterations were made in the auditorium. An alcove 
was built for the pipe organ, new pews were purchased, a 
pulpit set and colored windows were put in. A new set of 
Baptist hymnals was bought. Mr. Spear resigned January 
11, 1891. 

Rev. David L. Wentworth was next called to the pas- 
torate and he was ordained by a council, April 30, 1891. 
He resigned on the same day and month two years later. 
As an appreciation of his services resolutions were read 
and adopted. 

During Mr. Wentworth's term William G. Cross and 
Marcell H. Smith were chosen junior deacons, June 6, 1892. 
Dea. John M. Thompson died January 27, 1893. 

October 22, 1893, Rev. C. D. Swett accepted a call to 
the pastorate; March 21, 1898, he resigned. 

In 1897, a long needed vestry, a two-story building 
containing assembly hall, dining-room, kitchen, ladies' par- 
lor, and coat room, was erected and presented to the society 
by Dr. David O. Smith, his wife, Hannah P. Smith, and 
her brother, George W. Haselton, who jointly bore the en- 
tire expense of erecting the building. 

September 4, 1898, Rev. George W. Kinney, a former 
pastor of this church, was called to a second term, and he 
accepted, remaining a little more than two years, to re- 
sign November 1, 1901. 

Rev. Bernard Christopher was the next pastor called, 
in January, 1902, and remained a little over five years, re- 
signing February 1, 1907. 

Centennial Anniversary 

On Monday, May 1, 1905, the one hundredth anniver- 
sary of the little Baptist church of Christ, organized in 
Nottingham West, May 1, 1805, was celebrated with appro- 



ADDITIONAL CHURCH HISTORY 443 

priate services. Rev. Brinton M. Webster, of Lyme, N. 
H., formerly of Hudson, delivered a very interesting his- 
torical address. He stated that during its existence of one 
hundred years the church had had twenty pastors, of whom 
the following were then living: Rev. George Kinney, Rev. 
William P. Bartlett, Rev. T. M. Merriman, Rev. Charles C. 
Spear, Rev. David L. Wentworth, Rev. George A. Glines, 
and Rev. Bernard Christopher, the pastor then serving. 

The largest number of members at any time was 167, 
in 1828. In 1847, the number was 139; in 1878, 117; in 
1885, 125; in 1905, 94. During the century the church 
had had thirteen deacons, as follows: Thomas Senter and 
Nathaniel Currier, chosen May 7, 1805; Moses Greeley and 
David Burns, chosen October 30, 1816; Enoch S. Marsh 
and Benjamin Kidder, chosen April 1, 1838; Hiram Cum- 
mings and John M. Thompson, chosen October 4, 1866; 
Lewis L. Fish, chosen October 12, 1881; Eli Hamblet, in 
April, 1882; William G. Cross and Marcell H. Smith, 
chosen junior deacons June 6, 1892. Marcell H. Smith re- 
signed the office in 1901, and William C. Haselton was 
chosen to fill the vacancy, April 6, 1902. Of these, eight 
had died at the time of the centennial: Nathaniel Currier, 
date not given; Thomas Senter, December 25, 1834, aged 
83 years; Moses Greeley, August 15, 1848, aged 84; Enoch 
S. Marsh, December 19, 1865, aged 69; Benjamin Kidder, 
February 16, 1874, aged 77 years and 7 months; David 
Burns, April 20, 1876, aged 88 years and 7 months; John 
M. Thompson, February 27, 1893, aged 62; Eli Hamblet, 
August 5, 1896, aged 86 years and 2 months. Five of 
the deacons were then living: Hiram Cummings, Lewis L. 
Fish, (a resident of Windham), William G. Cross, Marcell 
H. Smith and William C. Haselton. Of these, Hiram 
Cummings died January 10, 1910, aged 88 years and 3 
months. 

The deacons at the present time (1912) are William C. 
Haselton and Charles H. Chase. 

Rev. C. R. Upton was pastor from September 22, 
1907, to August 27, 1909. 



444 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

In the spring of 1909, the parsonage erected in 1845 
by members of the church and later presented to the soci- 
ty, was totally destroyed by fire. A new one was built in 
the fall of the same year. 

November 1, 1909, Rev. Walter R. Anderson, the 
present pastor, began his work with this church. 

The number of church members September 1, 1911, 
was 119. The average attendance in the Sunday-school 
during the year 1911, was 57. 

This church has an organ which has been pronounced 
by expert organists to be the best for its size to which they 
have ever listened. It was built by Woodbury and Harris 
of Boston expressly for Dr. David O. Smith, at a cost of 
two thousand dollars. Dr. Smith, an expert musician in 
almost all of its branches, personally planned the selection 
of the various stops. The instrument was installed in 
April, 1888, and was presented to the church and society 
by Dr. Smith. 

Methodist Episcopal Church and Society 

Prior to 1830, a considerable number of substantial res- 
idents of this town had embraced the religious opinions of 
the Methodist denomination. The dismissal of Rev. Mr. 
Talbot by the Presbyterians in November, 1829, at his own 
request, together with the events which led up to it, left 
that society in a weak condition. Thus the members of 
that society, in the hope of improving their condition, en- 
tered into an agreement with the Methodists to hire the 
Rev. Samuel H. Tolman, a minister of the latter profes- 
sion, and that gentleman preached here during the year 
1830 and probably a part of 1831, occupying the Presby- 
terian pulpit at the South meeting-house. 

Mr. Tolman may have been instrumental in laying the 
foundation of the present Methodist Episcopal church in 
Hudson, which was organized in 1840. At any rate the 
converts to that form of belief seem to have increased from 



.mm *> 


'ft 


Us '--"«*" - 


s \ 



DAVID ONSLOW SMITH, M. D. 



ADDITIONAL CHURCH HISTORY 445 

that date, and in 1839, Rev. Jared Perkins, the Methodist 
minister in charge of the Nashua station, came to Hudson 
and lectured and exhorted in the old school house in Dis- 
trict Number Four, which stood a short distance north of 
the South meeting-house, and near the spot of the present 
gate of the Blodgett cemetery. Mr. Perkins also held 
meetings in other parts of the town, assisted by J. P. Chap- 
man of Nashua, E. A. Rice of Lowell, Rev. Sullivan Hol- 
man and others. 

A number of persons manifested a desire that regular 
meetings be held, and a church be established among them. 
The annual conference appointed the Rev. Abraham Fol- 
som pastor in charge of this station. 

Mr. Folsom was a man of energy and zeal, and his la- 
bors were crowned with abundant success in the organiza- 
tion of a church which has endured to the present time, 
and which has for all these many years been one of the 
indispensable religious organizations of Hudson. An ef- 
fort was made by him to raise funds for the building of a 
house of worship, and twelve hundred and fifty dollars were 
subscribed and collected for that purpose. A meeting was 
called, trustees appointed and a society legally constituted. 

The first board of trustees consisted of Cyrus Warren, 
Nathaniel M. Morse, David Clement, Ethan Willoughby 
and John Gillis. The meetings for the first year, or until 
the house was completed, were held in the South meeting- 
house, when not occupied by the Presbyterians. When 
this meeting-house could not be obtained, meetings were 
held in school houses, private dwellings, and sometimes in 
groves. 

At a meeting of the society, August 1, 1840, it was 
voted to build a meeting-house, to be fifty by forty feet in 
size. Land was given for the site by Mr. Abiather Winn. 
A plain, modest building was soon after erected, which 
was dedicated with appropriate services December 2, 1840. 

The location of this house was about one-half mile east 
of Taylor's Falls bridge, on the south side of the highway 



440 HISTORY OF HUDSOPT 

leading to Hudson Center. The site was a short distance 
in a westerly direction from Melendy's box shop of later 
years. 

At a meeting December 10, a constitution was adopt- 
ed and signed by the following persons: 

James Wilson, David Clement, 

Fred Peabody, Nathaniel M. Morse, 

James Ford, Nathan Marshall, 

John W. Underwood, Zadoc Farmer, 

Fitch P. Marsh, VVillard Spaulding, 

Zaccheus Colburn, Asa Merrill, 

Cyrus Warren, Albert Harris, 

Aaron Frost, George W. Kuhn, 

James Wellman. 
The meeting-house contained forty-four pews, which 
were sold at auction, from which sale a sum was realized 
sufficient to pay the cost of the building. The amount of 
the subscription raised the year before by Mr. Folsom was 
refunded to the subscribers. 

Two or three years later a small parsonage was erect- 
ed at a cost of about four hundred dollars. This was lo- 
cated near the south-west corner of the meeting-house. 
But this location proved to be unpleasant and inconvenient. 
Accordingly a new parsonage lot was secured on the north 
side of the highway, adjoining on the east the Congrega- 
tionalist meeting-house lot. Since then this site has been 
occupied by the house of Miss Winn. The parsonage was 
removed to that location, and an ell and small stable added 
to the main building. 

The exact date of this removal was not recorded, but 
it was not far from 1848. The interior of the church was 
extensively repaired and remodelled, in 1869, at an expense 
of about three hundred dollars. The pulpit was changed 
from the west to the east end of the auditorium, and seats 
for the singers were conveniently arranged in the rear of 
the pulpit. The pews were turned around and made to 
face the east instead of the west, as formerly, and numer- 
ous other needed improvements were made. 



ADDITIONAL CHURCH HISTORY 447 

The Nashua and Rochester railroad, now a part of the 
Boston and Maine system, which went into operation in 
the fall of 1874, was run between the meeting-house and 
the highway. The situation of the building was thus made 
not only inconvenient but somewhat dangerous. In this 
dilemma the trustees voted to remove the house to the 
north side of the highway, near to the parsonage and upon 
the same lot. 

The meeting-house was soon after removed to the new 
location, and quite extensive changes made. The house 
was raised to a sufficient height to permit the construction 
of a commodious vestry in the lower story. An addition 
of twelve by twenty-four feet was made to the rear, or 
north end, furnaces were put in and other improvements 
made. The expense of these improvements, including the 
cost of removal, was about $1,500. The meeting house was 
rededicated January 24, 1878. 

On Sunday, August 3, 1879, a little over one and one- 
half years after the dedication of the new church, immedi- 
ately after the close of services, the stable connected with 
the parsonage was set on fire from the flames of an oil 
stove, and that building, the parsonage and the meeting- 
house were all very soon reduced to ashes. 

The buildings were insured for $1,500, less than one- 
half of their real cost and value. The loss was severely 
felt, and came near to being a fatal blow to the devoted 
church and society. 

A small hall near the bridge, owned by Mr. James 
Carnes, was the most available place that could be obtained 
at that time to hold services, and meetings were held there 
until a new house could be erected. This hall was in the 
south part of the second story of the building since occu- 
pied by Baker Brothers as a store. 

When the matter of anew house began to be earnestly 
discussed among the members of the society, quite a serious 
difference of opinion was found to exist in regard to the 
most suitable and satisfactory site for its location. While 



448 HISTORY OF HUDSON - 

some were strongly in favor of rebuilding on the old loca- 
tion, many others were equally as firm in believing that a 
place nearer the Bridge would much better accommodate 
the members, especially those living in the east part of 
Nashua, which portion formed at that time a large propor- 
tion of the membership, while adding material strength and 
prosperity to the little church. 

The matter was settled by the majority in the choice 
of the location where the brick church was soon after 
erected and has since stood. The land was purchased from 
James Carnes for five hundred dollars. 

Citizens of the town and benevolent persons, some of 
whom were former residents gave their support by sub- 
scription, and in April, 1880, arrangements were per- 
fected for the building of a new meeting-house, 40 by 70 
feet, of brick and wood, two stories high, with tower and 
spire at the north-east corner. 

A building committee was appointed, consisting of 
Solomon A. Davis, Kimball Webster, Augustus F. Blodg- 
ett, John H. Baker and Abi A. Sanders. This committee 
caused the new church to be erected and finished according 
to the plans adopted, so that the second meeting-house of 
the First Methodist Episcopal church and society of Hud- 
son was dedicated December 7, 1880. 

The basement or vestry was of brick, and the building 
above was of wood with a brick jacket. The church con- 
tains an audience room and vestry of ample size, and is re- 
puted to be one of the most convenient and pleasing country 
churches to be found in the state. 

The church edifice, with the cost of the land, aside 
from a considerable amount of material and labor contrib- 
uted by members of the society, with others not belonging 
to the same, cost about $7,000. To meet this sum were 
the following resources : 
Insurance on the buildings destroyed by fire . . $1,500.00 

Old church lot sold 225.00 

Individual contributions 1,059.55 



ADDITIONAL CHURCH HISTORY 449 

Pledged on evening of dedication $466.00 

Donated soon after dedication 512.67 

Received from miscellaneous sources 8.30 

Amount of available funds $3,771.52 

To make up this deficiency the trustees voted to pro- 
cure a loan from the Church Extension Society of $2,500, 
and to obtain the balance through temporary loans. 

The earnestness with which the church worked to re- 
move this indebtedness is shown by the fact that on Janu- 
ary 1, 1882, it had been reduced to $1,027.12. The last of 
the indebtedness in building and furnishing the church was 
paid May 4, 1887, when the society became entirely free 
from debt. 

From the date of the destruction of the meeting-house 
and parsonage, August 3, 1879, to 1893, the society being 
destitute of a parsonage was obliged to obtain such accom- 
modations as were possible for the home of the pastor and 
his family. This was not always as convenient as could be 
wished. As early as 1888 a lot of land was procured by the 
trustees on Baker street. 

At a meeting of the trustees August 26, 1893, it was 
voted that a building committee which had already been 
chosen by the Quarterly Conference, "be instructed that 
after a sum of $2,200 shall be raised or pledged, including 
the funds of the society and Fletcher fund — to build a par- 
sonage and stable at a total expense not to exceed $2,500." 

These instructions were executed by the committee 
during the autumn of that year. The building committee 
consisted of Rev. C. H. Farnsworth, James G. Walker, 
Augustus F. Blodgett and Kimball Webster. 

How to obtain the amount of money desired — $2,500 
— with which to build the parsonage was an unsolved prob- 
lem. The society had on deposit in the savings bank, the 
Fletcher fund, so-called, six hundred dollars. The fund 
named was a part of the amount bequeathed to the society 
by Mrs. Dorinda A. Fletcher under her last will, as 
follows : 



450 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

1st. I will and bequeath to the First Methodist Episcopal society 
of Hudson, to be held and applied by the trustees of said society or their 
successors, two hundred dollars ($200). 

Second. The residue of my property, whether real estate, personal 
or mixed, to the First M. E. Society of Hudson, to be held and invested 
by them as a permanent fund, the interest thereof to be annually applied 
as follows : 

One-fifth part to the Missionary society of said church, four fifths to 
the support of Christ's cause, as the Official Hoard of said church shall 
direct. 

The will was dated March 18, 1879. Mrs. Fletcher 
deceased about 1883. July 1, 1883, the treasurer of the 
trustees received from the estate of Mrs. Fletcher $799.28. 
The amount of $600 was deposited as a permanent fund, 
and the balance was paid to the Church Extension Society 
towards the liquidation of the church debt. 

Bequest of Mrs. Tinker 

April 20, 1885, Mrs. Rebekah (Hill) Tinker, long a res- 
ident of this town, died and the Methodist society became 
the residuary under her will. January 1, 1887, the treas- 
urer received from her estate the balance of $991.78. The 
greater part of this legacy was expended in the cancellation 
of the debt incurred in the building of the church in 1880, 
as the will placed no restriction upon it. 

Donation of Lucinda W. Floyd 

Mrs. Floyd was a widow, and a resident of the east 
part of Hudson. She owned an estate of less than $2,000 
in value. She died April 4, 1888, aged 01 years. 

Previous to her death she made a deposit in the New 
Hampshire Banking Company of Nashua, a savings bank, 
of three hundred dollars in the name of the Methodist so- 
ciety of Hudson. 



additional church history 451 

Bequest of Mrs. Electa Atwood 

Mrs. Electa (Haywood) Atwood, widow of William 
Atwood, born in this town where she always lived, died 
January 27, 1887, aged 82 years and 7 months. She left a 
will by which she made the Methodist society of Hudson 
the residuary. Her estate in all amounted to a little more 
than $500. After another legacy of $200, together with 
funeral expenses, charges of settling the estate and other 
debts, a balance of $26.19 was paid to the treasurer of the 
society September 19, 1888. This was the poor widow's 
mite. She gave all she had. 

A subscription was taken up by which there was real- 
ized towards building the parsonage the sum of $745. 

Mr. Abram Woodbury, aside from contributing one 
hundred dollars towards the above amount, had previously 
deposited in the savings bank, in the name of the society 
the sum of five hundred dollars, to be used towards build- 
ing a parsonage. This, when drawn with the accumulated 
interest, amounted to $530.40. 

In addition to this, two other deposits were drawn at 
at this time, amounting to $514.99. All of this gave an en- 
couraging start towards the new parsonage. 

Accordingly, at a meeting of the trustees August 26, it 
was voted "That a parsonage shall be built in accordance 
with the foregoing vote, that the treasurer be instructed to 
draw the Fletcher fund from the Nashua Savings Bank and 
apply the same towards the expense of said parsonage and 
stable, with the understanding that said fund of $600 shall 
remain as a permanent fund according to the terms of the 
will of the late Dorinda A. Fletcher, and the income or 
interest thereof, of not less than four per cent per annum, 
be paid annually as provided for by said will." 

In conformity with the foregoing vote, the Fletcher 
fund was drawn January 5, 1894, and expended by the com- 
mittee, with the other available funds, in building the par- 
sonage and stable. The Fletcher fund at that time amount- 



452 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

ed to $624.24. The whole amount received by the building 
committee was $2,419. 93. 

A convenient and commodious parsonage, with a bath 
room and other modern improvements, was erected, with a 
stable attached, at a total cost of $2,497.96, land and insur- 
ance not included. 

Mr. Abram Woodbury, a much-honored and very be- 
nevolent citizen of Hudson, made it possible at that time 
for the society to materialize this long discussed and much 
needed acquisition without the necessity of incurring any 
burdensome debt, by contributing more than six hundred 
dollars towards the expense. 

Mr. Woodbury died January 30, 1894, aged 71 years 
and 6 months. He died intestate, but it became known 
after his decease that he had left a deposit in a Nashua 
savings bank in the name of the Methodist society of Hud- 
son for the amount of five hundred dollars. This deposit 
was without restrictions or conditions, but previous to his 
decease he had expressed to his wife a desire that it should 
remain for the present as a fund, and not to be expended 
in the building of the parsonage. 

For several years after the Fletcher fund had been 
taken from the savings bank and expended towards paying 
for the building of the parsonage, a considerable feeling 
seemed to exist with many members of the church and so- 
ciety — a part of the trustees included — that the terms of 
the will of Mrs. Fletcher had not been strictly adhered to, 
and that the Fletcher fund, as it was then managed, ex- 
isted in little more than a name. The Woodbury fund had, 
in a way, taken its place. And now, ten years after the 
decease of Mr. Woodbury, the deposit left the society by 
him, with its accumulated interest making it about six 
hundred dollars, was still on deposit. 

As this matter continued to be agitated, on March 27, 
1904, at a meeting of the trustees, it was voted, after a 
careful consideration, that the treasurer draw the Wood- 
bury fund from the bank, and deposit six hundred dollars 
of it upon a new account as the Fletcher fund. 



ADDITIONAL CHURCH HISTORY 453 

In consideration of this change, and the fact that Mr. 
Woodbury had previously given more than six hundred 
dollars towards building the parsonage, it was voted that it 
should be known hereafter as the "Woodbury Parsonage." 

Through a parsonage agent previously appointed by 
the Quarterly Conference this change was effected by the 
treasurer. 

Quarter Centennial 

December 7, 1905, occurred the twenty-fifth anniver- 
sary of the dedication of the brick church, and appropriate 
and pleasing ceremonies were carried out in commemora- 
tion of the fact. A little more than two hundred dollars 
was collected by the pastor, Rev. Mr. Bragg, for the bene- 
fit of the church at this time. 

January, 1906, the auditorium and vestry were fur- 
nished with electric lights. 

In October, 1894, about 2,204 feet of land from the 
north-west corner of the church lot was sold to Cummings 
Brothers for one hundred dollars, by the Quarterly Confer- 
ence and trustees. December 21, 1908, the same party, 
for the sum of $285, bought from the westerly and north- 
erly parts of the church property 15,720 feet of land, leav- 
ing a remainder of 18,540 feet. 

The church lot had been covered with a growth of 
oak trees, and the grove of these left to stand made a 
pleasant protection during the summer months. But these 
trees were becoming ancient, and beginning to show signs 
of decay. Many of them were white oaks, and seemed the 
especial attraction for brown tail moths. Accordingly, 
in November, 1908, the trustees voted to have these trees 
removed, which was done in the spring of 1909. 

In April, of the same year, a steel ceiling was applied 
to the church auditorium at a cost, with the painting, of 
about $285. 



454 history of hudson 

Bequest of Mr. Tolles 

Mr. Lucien M. Tolles, for many years a resident on 
the Derry road in this town, died January 15, 1911. Al- 
though a Baptist, Mr. Tolles had generously assisted the 
Methodist society at the time of building the brick church 
in 1880, and also at the time of building the parsonage. 
At his decease he remembered the Methodist society of 
Hudson by a bequest of one hundred dollars. 

Honored Names 

The following list contains the names of a few of the 
many persons that were ever ready to give the church and 
society substantial aid and assistance; many of them in its 
early years, when it was greatly in need of encouragement 
and wise counsel, sustaining it when troubles were met and 
disasters sometimes threatened its very existence: 

Nathaniel M. Morse, John W. Underwood, Zadoc Far- 
mer, Nathan Marshall, Franklin Wilson, Fitch P. Marsh, 
Cyrus Warren, John N. Marshall, Solomon Chase, Abijah 
Hill, Solomon A. Davis, Benjamin F. Bus well, Abram 
Woodbury, Mrs. Louisa J. Dudley, Mrs. John N. Marshall, 
Mrs. Mary Hills, Harriet P. Wason, Charlotte A. Wason, 
Mrs. Dorinda Fletcher, Mrs. Rebekah H. Hill, Mrs. Dan- 
iel Moore, Mrs. Miranda W. Chase, Mrs. John W. Under- 
wood, Mrs. Harriet S. Hill, Mrs. Clarissa Wilson, Mrs. 
Mary J. Woodbury, and many others equally as deserving 
names might be added to swell the honored list. 

Memorial Windows 

At the time of the building of the church in 1880, 
eight very handsome and appropriate memorial windows 
were put in by the friends of some of the persons who were 
formerly very active members of the society. These win- 
dows were inscribed with the following: names: 



ADDITIONAL CHURCH HISTORY 455 

Jonathan C. Dudley, 

Rebekah H. Hill, 

Eben & Mehitable Pollard, 

Harriet P. Wason, 

Charles T. Spaulding, 

J. Gardnkr Winn, 

Harriet S. Hill, 

Nathan Marshall. 

Jonathan C. Dudley resided near Taylor's Falls bridge 
in Hudson. He died March 29, 1865, aged 43 years. 

Nathan Marshall was a native of this town, but died 
in Nashua, July 6, 1866, aged 44 years and 6 months. 

Eben Pollard and Mehitable Pollard, his wife, were 
both life residents of Hudson. He died October 3, 1886, 
aged 66 years. Mrs. Pollard died September 9, 1891, aged 
86 years and 1] months. 

The four above mentioned were buried in the Sunny- 
side cemetery in this town. 

Harriet S. Hill was the wife of Abijah Hill, and was a 
resident of Hills Row. She died August 7, 1873, aged 58 
years, and was buried in the Hills Farms cemetery. 

Harriet P. Wason was a native of this town, born 
April 24, 1825, and died April 19, 1859. She was buried 
in the Blodgett cemetery. 

J. Gardner Winn, son of Joseph and Margaret (Burns) 
Winn, was born in Hudson, and died of wounds received 
in the army, September 18, 1862, aged 34 years. 

Charles T. Spaulding died in Nashua while a young 
man, leaving a widow and one son. 

Pastors 

During the seventy-three years of the existence of the 
church, 1839 to 1912, inclusive, thirty-five pastors have 
been stationed here by the conference. The names of 
these ministers, with the dates of their service here, are as 
follows: 

1839. Abraham Folsom, who died in Hampton, N. 
H., March 31, 1872, aged 78 years. 



456 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

1840. Charles H. Chase, who died at Chicago, 111., 
May 19, 1904, aged 86 years and 6 months. He was buried 
at Plymouth, N. H. 

1841-2. Moses A. Howe. 

1843. A. H. Worthing. 

1844. Jacob Boyce. 

1845-6. Matthew Newhall; died May 4, 1875, in 
Greenland, N. H., aged 75 years. 

1847-8. Jonathan Hall. 

1849-50. Isaac W. Huntley, who died at Manchester, 
N. H., November 6, 1852, aged 31 years. 

1851. George F. Wells, who died April 8, 1883, in 
North Woodstock, N. H., at the age of 80 years. 

1852. Rev. Mr. Cathers. 

1853. Kimball Hadley. 

1854-5-6. Supplied by students from the Biblical In- 
stitute, at Concord, N. H. 

1857. R. Edmund Danforth; died at Keene, N. H., 
June 28, 1863, aged 29 years. 

1858-9. John W. Johnson, who died at Sunapee, N. 
H., April 12, 1862, at the age of 51 years. 

1860-1. Lucien W. Prescott. 

1862-3. William Hewes, who died at Lawrence, Mass., 
December 17, 1890, aged 82 years. 

1864-5. B. W. Chase. During his pastorate an ex- 
tensive revival took place, when over fifty people are said 
to have been received into the church. 

1866-7. Samuel Beedle, who died at Hull, Mass., Jan- 
uary 8, 1891, aged 79 years. 

1868-70. Otis Cole. 

1871-3. Charles A. Cressey. 

1874. W. W. Smith. 

1875-6. John D. Folsom. 

1877-9. Albert F. Baxter. 

1880-2. Charles W. Taylor. 

1883-4. William Woods. 

1885. Frederick C. Pillsbury. 



<. i'i» 




ADDITIONAL CHURCH HISTORY 457 

1886. Frederick H. Corson. 

1887. George A. Scott. 

1888-91. Silas G. Kellogg, who died in Hudson, De- 
cember 21, 1891, aged 68 years, 8 months and 27 days. 

1892. Sullivan Holman, who died April 15, 1896, at 
the age of 76 years. 

1893-4. Charles H. Farnsworth. 

1895. E. O. Bullock. 

1896-7. George W. Buzzell. 

1898-9. John D. Folsom, a second term. 

1900-2. William J. Atkinson. 

1903-5. Lyman D. Bragg. 

1906-12. Francis O. Tyler. 
The number of communicants April 1, 1912, are . . 53 

Members of Sunday school 112 

Members Home Department 15 

Members Cradle Class 18 

Total membership of Sunday school .... 198 

Alvirne Memorial Chapel 

The Alvirne Memorial Chapel is located on Derry 
road about two miles from Nashua, and takes its place 
naturally among the pine trees of the Hills Farms ceme- 
tery addition of about twenty acres, purchased by Dr. Al- 
fred K. Hills for this purpose. Commenced late in the 
year of 1908, it was consecrated on November 12, 1909, 
Rev. William Porter Niles of Nashua, and Rev. William 
M. Grosvenor or New York, officiating. 

It was built by Dr. Alfred K. Hills in memory of his 
deceased wife, Ida Virginia Creutzborg. While primarily 
a Mausoleum, it also serves as a Mortuary Chapel, and is 
of a distinctive character not inconsistent with its monu- 
mental purpose. In accordance with the directions of the 
donor, it is so arranged that services may be held, from 
time to time, by various denominations. The furnishings 
include a small organ, which answers an excellent purpose. 



458 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

The building is sixty-four (64) feet long, and thirty-six 
(36) feet wide, built of weathered granite with cut granite 
trimmings. The roof is strongly constructed and covered 
with heavy graduated slate in various shades of green and 
purple; the cornices and trimmings of the roof are of heavy 
copper. The exterior walls are rapidly being covered by 
beautiful branch ivy. 

As far as possible, the chapel has been made fireproof, 
the floor being of reinforced concrete, the exterior of the 
roof being slated and no exposed woodwork showing on the 
outside. The interior finish of the roof is of quartered 
oak; the same material is used for all the trusses and beams 
in the ceilings and doors, and choir stalls. The floor is red 
Grueby tile laid in pattern of hexagons and quatrefoils. 
The interior walls are lined with gray brick up to the spring 
of the ceiling. The walls of the chancel are lined with 
Grueby tiles, many of them made especially for this chapel. 
Symbols of the Evangelists and other church symbols are 
indicated on some of the special tiles. The floor of the 
chancel is of gray Tennessee marble; the altar is of this 
same gray marble, on the front of which are the letters "I 
H. S." and a cross in gold; on each side of the chancel 
are two tablets to mark the names of the remains of those 
in the crypts underneath the chancel floor. 

The ceiling of the chancel is panelled in a slightly 
richer fashion than the main church ceiling, a little cusping 
being introduced in the panelling. 

The windows are of stained and leaded glass, contain- 
ing church symbols, and are set directly into the stone 
mullions, the outside being protected by heavy copper wire 
screens. On the east front of the main gable there is a 
small belfry containing a cast bronze bell; a granite cross 
marks the chancel gable. Two large mullion windows at 
each end, and five smaller windows on the side, light the 
main church. The color scheme of the glass is peculiarly 
pleasing, being in soft warm tones of purple and amber. 

There is a small vestry provided, containing a fireplace 
and provision for records, with separate entrance on the 



ADDITIONAL CHURCH HISTORY 459 

southerly side, thus giving an opportunity for processions 
at services, if desired. The main vestibule is also on the 
southerly side; the entrance is through large folding oak 
doors, made extra heavy and thick, panelled and cusped, 
and ornamented with heavy wrought iron hinges made from 
special designs. Two large leather covered doors studded 
with bronze nails and plates, open to the main church. 

In designing and building the chapel, the intention was 
to have it express a fitting and monumental character, and 
at the same time allow of its use for purposes of a mortuary 
chapel connected with the cemetery; also a place where 
services might be held during the summer months. Every- 
thing connected with the building and construction have 
been so arranged as to do away with the need of repairs or 
up-keeping. The construction was carefully overseen, and 
extra effort was taken to have everything made solid and 
permanent. 

The foundations were made especially large and deep, 
and the walls of unusual thickness. 

No attempt was made at display, the whole idea being 
to erect a quiet, and dignified building, that would take 
its place naturally in rather a solemn setting. 

All the materials used are practically indestructible in 
the high, dry atmosphere of the locality. The granite for 
the exterior walls, by a fortunate chance, was found nearby 
in an old moss-grown, weather beaten stone wall, and the va- 
ried colors, shapes and surfaces give a pleasing and, already 
with the lapse of a very short time since completion, anti- 
quated appearance. 

The building seems to have weathered many bleak 
New England winters, and whether this be a virtue or de- 
fect, it was attained without striving, by taking advantage 
of materials close at hand. 

Dr. Hills is constantly seeking to add something to 
embellish both the exterior and the interior of the building. 
Already, by the planting of evergreen, laurel and ivy, with 
a handsome driveway, which circles near the doorway, the 
exterior presents a more finished appearance, and the 



460 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

interior has been embellished by the addition of various 
pieces of an ecclesiastical nature, all showing evidences of 
careful study and consideration. Recently he has built 
an iron fence around the whole tract, including the old 
cemetery. 

The architect of the building, Hubert G. Ripley, of 
Boston, and the builder, John W. Duff, of Boston, studied 
the subject carefully, in collaboration with Dr. Hills, in the 
endeavor to produce a permanent, dignified and fitting 
result. 



CHAPTER XXXIII 

Public Libraries 

No library of a public nature is known to have existed 
in this town prior to 1797, when Samuel Marsh, Joseph 
Winn, Phineas Underwood, Eleazer Cummings, John Pol- 
lard and Joseph Greeley petitioned the Legislature for the 
incorporation of a library, and on December 9 of the same 
year an act was passed incorporating the same by the name 
of the Nottingham West Social Library. 

While this was not a free library, strictly speaking, 
any worthy citizen of the town could enjoy all the advan- 
tages it afforded, on payment of certain small fees and dues 
for the purpose of keeping it replenished with books and 
defraying its running expenses. 

The proprietors, who were among the most intelligent 
and influential residents of the town, displayed most excel- 
lent judgment in the selection of books, many of which 
were standard works of a high order. 

This library continued in active existence for nearly 
fifty years, to the great benefit of all who availed them- 
selves of its privileges; then, by mutual consent, the asso- 
ciation was dissolved and the books were distributed among 
the proprietors. 

In 1856, George W. Haselton, Eli Hamblet, Jefferson 
Smith, Daniel M. Greeley, Reuben Greeley, J. O. Dane, 
James Emery, David B. Andrews, William F. Lewis, Bart- 
lett Pease, Alvan Smith, David O. Smith, Benjamin F. 
Sprague, Job D. Thomas and Benjamin Dean formed them- 
selves into an association called the "Hudson Center Li- 
brary." 

They all subscribed and paid into the treasury small 
amounts of money, and adopted a constitution, June 20, 
1856. 

461 



462 HISTORY OF HUDSON" 

November 11, 1856, the following officers were elected.: 
Bartlett Pease, president; Alvan Smith and George W. 
Haselton, vice-presidents; Eli Hamble'i, secretary, treas- 
urer and librarian. 

It appears by the records that the association pur- 
chased, as a nucleus for their collection of books, the Cab- 
inet Library, a series of twenty volumes by Samuel G. 
Goodrich, better known under his pseudonym of "Peter 
Parley." 

Subsequent records show the addition of only two 
books, so that it does not appear that this library ever con- 
tained more than twenty-two books in all. It was kept at 
the home of the librarian, Eli Hamblet, and books were 
loaned to its members until 18(30, after which its active ex- 
istence seems to have come to an end, since no further 
record relating to it is found. 

A legislative act was approved April 11, 1891, "to pro- 
mote the establishment and efficiency of free public libra- 
ries." 

This act provided for the appointment of a board of 
library commissioners by the governor and council, and 
further provided that "said board is hereby authorized and 
directed to expend upon application of any town having no 
free public library owned and controlled by the town, a 
sum not exceeding one hundred dollars for books for any 
such town entitled to the benefits of this act, such books to 
be used by said town for the purpose of establishing a free 
public library, and said commissioners shall select and pur- 
chase all books to be provided as aforesaid." 

At that time very few free public libraries existed in 
this state, outside of the cities and large towns. 

At the annual town meeting, March 14, 1893, it was 
unanimously voted to accept the benefits of this law's 
provision, but no library trustees were chosen. A short 
time afterwards the selectmen appointed Kimball Webster, 
Henry O. Smith and Oswald P. Baker, trustees for the new 
library. Before any action had been taken or substantial 



PUBLIC LIBRARIES 463 

progress made, it was learned that by the will of the late 
Adoniram Judson Greeley, five hundred volumes of books, 
to be selected from his private library of nearly three thou- 
sand, had been bequeathed to the town of Hudson for a 
free public library. 

Dr. Greeley was a native of this town, being the oldest 
son of Reuben and Joanna C. (Merrill) Greeley, and was 
born September 10, 1818. He died at Olneyville, R. I., 
September 1, 1893. 

At the annual meeting, March 13, 1894, the town by 
vote accepted Dr. Greeley's bequest. Through the gener- 
ous impulses of his immediate heirs his entire collection of 
books was presented to the town, from which eighteen 
hundred and seventy-eight volumes were selected for the 
benefit of the new library. 

In honor of the memory of the donor making this be- 
quest, and in consideration of the generosity of the family 
making the donation, the library was named the Greeley 
Public Library of Hudson, N. H. 

The state, through the library commissioners, fur- 
nished the new library one hundred books, eighteen hun- 
dred and eighty-nine were selected from Dr. Greeley's col- 
lection, including eleven purchased with the proceeds of 
old books sold, and citizens of the town donated thirty-five 
volumes. 

Mrs. Emma B. Merrill was appointed librarian by the 
trustees, and the library was opened to the town's people 
June 20, 1894, at the residence of George A. Merrill, with 
two thousand and twenty-four books catalogued and on the 
shelves. 

The institution was appreciated from the very first by 
the citizens of the town. During the eight months of its 
first year, ending February 15, 1895, the average number 
of books loaned each month was one hundred and eighty- 
one and one-half. 

The library was kept at George A. Merrill's, until 
April, 1895, when, owing to the resignation of the librarian, 



464 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Mrs. Merrill, it became necessary to take it to some other 
place, and it was moved into what was then called Web- 
ster's hall, in the third story over Baker Brothers' store. 
Miss Mary N. Webster was appointed librarian. 

The library remained here until June 7, 1909, more 
than fourteen years, when it was removed into the new 
Hills Memorial Library building. The several librarians 
during these years, with their terms of service, were as 
follows: Mrs. Emma B. Merrill, ten months, to April, 
1895; Miss Mary N. Webster, one year and ten months, to 
February 15, 1897; Miss Maud S. Andrews, six years and 
seven months, to September, 1903; Miss Ina V. Martin, 
two years and five months, to February, 1906; Mrs. Eliza 
B. Leslie, from February, 1906, to the present time, 1913. 

While the advantages afforded by this free public li- 
brary might, perhaps, at first have been more fully utilized 
by the town's people, yet the patronage steadily increased 
and, on the whole, has been quite satisfactory. 

During the first full library year, which ended Febru- 
ary 15, 1896, the whole number of books loaned was two 
thousand, five hundred and twelve, a monthly average of 
two hundred and nine and one-third. During the last 
library year, previous to its removal, which ended Febru- 
ary 15, 1909, the number loaned was three thousand, eight 
hundred and eight, a monthly average of three hundred 
and seventeen and one-third. In the fourteen years and 
eight months, ending February 15, 1909, there were loaned 
thirty-five thousand, eight hundred and fifty-one volumes, 
or a monthly average of two hundred and three and seven- 
tenths for the time. 

Ever realizing the great necessity for a permanent, 
commodious, and fireproof public library building in Hud- 
son, and fully cognizant of the fact that suitable sites con- 
veniently located for such a building were fast being taken 
up, and anticipating that within a very few years it would 
become difficult to procure such a site at any reasonable 
price, Kimball Webster, in 1903, purchased land at the cor- 



PUBLIC LIBRARIES 465 

ner of Ferry and Sanders, now Library, streets, and on 
September 17, 1904, conveyed the same to the town of 
Hudson as a site for a public library building. 
Deed of Library Lot 

Know all men by these Presents. 

That I, Kimball Webster, of Hudson, county of Hillsborough, and 
state of New Hampshire, In consideration of having long been a resident 
of the town of Hudson, and having in common with its other citizens en- 
joyed the numerous benefits derived from its wholesome government, and 
in view of the future needs of said town of Hudson, and of the welfare of 
its citizens, the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, have given, 
granted, bargained, sold and conveyed, and do for myself and my heirs, 
by these presents, give, grant, bargain, sell and convey unto the said town 
of Hudson forever, a certain tract of land situated in said Hudson, con- 
taining 32,460 feet, more or less, bounded and described as follows: 

From this point the deed proceeds to give a descrip- 
tion of the tract in the usual phraseology of such instru- 
ments, a verbatim repetition of which would entail a useless 
waste of space and time. It should suffice to say that the 
circumscribing line commencing at a stone bound at the 
junction of Ferry and Sanders streets, runs easterly by 
said Ferry street nearly two hundred and twelve feet to a 
stone bound at land of Charles H. Hanscom; thence south- 
erly by said land nearly one hundred and thirty-eight feet 
to a stone bound on other land of Kimball Webster; thence 
westerly by said Webster land nearly two hundred and 
fifty-two feet to a stone bound at Sanders street ; thence 
northerly by said street to the place of beginning. 

This land formerly belonged to the Nashua Coal and 
Ice Company of Nashua, and was conveyed to Kimball 
Webster by said company, July 9, 1903. 

The above described land was given by Kimball Web- 
ster to the town of Hudson as a site for a public library 
building, on the understanding that such portions of it as 
might not be needed for such building, or its proper sur- 
roundings, might be used as sites for other public buildings, 
or for any proper public uses needed by said town of Hud- 
son. 



466 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

As the chief object in the gift of this land is to provide 
a suitable site for a public library, the said lot must front 
on Sanders, now Library street, and no building must ever 
be erected between the library building and said street, and 
there must be given ample space so that it may never be 
unduly crowded by other structures. 

Also this deed was given upon the condition that 
within a reasonable time after the acceptance of this con- 
veyance, the town should cause the grounds to be cleared 
up and put into a respectable and attractive condition. In 
no case was the town ever to sell, dispose of or convey 
these premises, or any part of them, to any person or cor- 
poration for any purpose whatever. 

In case the town should ever sell or convey, or even 
attempt to sell or convey, any part or the whole of said 
premises, such parts or the whole of the lands so sold or 
conveyed, or so attempted to be sold or conveyed by the 
town, were immediately to revert to the donor or his es- 
tate. 

The deed of conveyance was duly signed and sealed 
September 17, 1904. 

The possession of a location for the future home of the 
Hudson free public library was now an assured fact for 
all coming time. Hitherto it had been a homeless waif 
drifting from one shelter to another. Now it seemed only 
to await the erection of a proper structure for a permanent 
abiding place. 

It had not long to wait. 

In every human undertaking the right man to take the 
helm seems to appear at the proper time and place; so now 
further aid for the Hudson free public library looms above 
the horizon in the person of Dr. Alfred Kimball Hills 
of New York. 

Dr. Hills was born in Hudson, October 23, 1840, the 
son of Alden and Nancy Currier (Kimball) Hills, and the 
great-great grandson of James Hills, one of the three broth- 
ers who are credited with having been the first settlers of 
this town. 



PUBLIC LIBRARIES 467 

Dr. Hills married Martha P. Simmons, June 6, 1865. 
She died, childless, in New York, June 8, 1885. 

June 11, 1887, he married Ida Virginia Creutzborg of 
Philadelphia. 

Dr. Hills purchased of his father the old homestead in 
Hudson, of nearly two hundred acres, upon which he 
erected a fine and spacious summer residence which he 
named "Alvirne." Here he and his wife spent the sum- 
mer seasons for many years, residing in New York during 
the winters. 

The two daughters born to them died in infancy. Mrs. 
Ida Virginia Creutzborg Hills died May 4, 1908. 

She was an educated and refined lady, of a happy, 
cheerful disposition and a generous, philanthropic nature, 
and was loved and respected by all who came within the 
charmed circle of her acquaintance. 

For more than twenty years she took much delight in 
occupying her beautiful summer home in Hudson, where 
she became endeared to a large circle of friends and neigh- 
bors. 

It is said to have been her cherished design to some- 
time procure the erection of a suitable and permanent struc- 
ture for the housing of the Hudson public library, which 
would be an enduring honor to the town and a perpetual 
source of pride to its people. 

She died suddenly at fifty-one years of age, in the very 
prime of her life and usefulness. 

Soon after his wife's decease Dr. Hills began arrange- 
ments for carrying her wishes into effect, in the construc- 
tion of a building of stone and other indestructible mate- 
rial, which should be durable, ornamental and convenient, 
such as he knew she had designed to provide for the use 
and benefit of the people of her adopted town. 

A plan for a library building was procured and sub- 
mitted to the selectmen, with the request that they call a 
special meeting for its consideration. This meeting was 
called for the first day of September, 1908, and the warrant 
for the same contained the following article: 



468 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

To see if the town will vote to accept the proposition of Dr. Alfred 
K. Hills to erect a memorial Library building on the lot given the town 
by Kimball Webster according to the terms embodied in the proposition. 

At this meeting, on the afternoon of September 1, the 
following proposition was submitted by Dr. Hills: 

To the Town of Hudson, State of New Hampshire. 

I am moved by many reasons to make the following offer to said 
town : 

If the town will vote to accept the proposition at a legal meeting of 
the voters, I will cause to be built at my own expense a public library 
building in said town within a reasonable time on the lot generously do- 
nated to the town by the Honorable Kimball Webster, on the corner of 
Ferry and Sanders Streets, the building to be essentially like a sketch 
which I have exhibited, subject to such improvements or changes as may 
occur to me and be more to my taste. 

The library shall be known as the Hills Memorial Library, and shall 
be so designated and marked in the interior or exterior as may seem most 
fitting to me, and I also include the right in some proper way to designate 
the generous donation of the site by Mr. Webster. 

The library in its use and management shall always be non-sectarian, 
and the books now constituting the free library of the town shall be placed 
therein, and such books as may be added thereto, to be for the perpetual 
use as a free public library. 

The town accepts my offer on the foregoing terms and agrees to keep 
the library building in suitable repair so long as it exists and to main- 
tain it. ALFRED K. HILLS. 

"Voted to accept the proposition of Dr. Alfred K. 
Hills to erect a Memorial Library Building." 

At the biennial meeting of the town, November 3, 
1908, the following article from Dr. Hills was read by the 
town clerk: 

"In behalf of the departed friend in whose memory it 
is proposed to erect this library building I accept the 
thanks that have been so generously offered. 

"Mrs. Hills in her lifetime was a voluminous reader, 
and fortunately for her she was generously supplied with 
books. This did not, however, prevent her from sympa- 
thizing with those who were less fortunate. 

"It had been in our minds for some years to erect a 
suitable building in this town to supply the needs of a pub- 




Mrs. IDA VIRGINIA CREUTZBORG HILLS 



PUBLIC LIBRARIES 469 

lie library, and we had been collecting books with a view 
to properly stocking the same. 

"The recent sad event has brought the culmination of 
our project sooner than was expected. While it is not my 
intention to make promises that may be broken, or to boast 
of intentions which may be unfulfilled, I will simply say 
that it is our intention to make the tribute worthy the 
beautiful character which it is to commemorate. 

"It was my intention to have accomplished the pur- 
pose single-handed, but I could not resist the appeal of a 
saintly, heart-broken mother, to be allowed to join me in its 
construction, therefore the work will be done by mother 
and husband jointly. 

"I think that you will agree with me that the proposed 
building is not only artistic in appearance, but convenient 
in arrangement and practical in construction. 

"The working model was furnished by my own library 
at 'Alvirne,' the product of Mrs. Hills' brain in conjunc- 
tion with our architect. I want to say in this connection 
that our friend, Mr. Ripley, of Boston, has entered into 
this work, as one of love as well as of profession. It seems 
to me that he has made a most happy hit. If arrangements 
can be promptly made it is hoped that the roof may be on 
this fall so that the inside finish may be done during the 
ensuing winter. 

"I shall be glad to see the building dedicated in early 
June of next year." 

At a town meeting the following resolution was unan- 
imously adopted: 

Resolved : That we, the legal voters of Hudson in town meeting as- 
sembled, with a deep sense of gratitude hereby express our heartfelt 
thanks for the generous gift to the town of a magnificent library building 
to be dedicated to the memory of Ida Virginia Hills, a woman to whose 
memory no higher tribute can be paid than one simple word — beloved. 

Our thanks are due Dr. Hills and that venerable mother, for carrying 
forward the wish that she so fondly cherished. 

This grand gift cannot fail to be a source of pleasure and profit to 
the entire community, and of untold value to generations yet unborn, long 
after we all here present shall have joined our kindred dust. 



470 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

The construction of this building was commenced in 
October, continued through the winter and completed in 
May, 1909. 

Two bronze tablets were placed upon the outside front, 
under the portico, inscribed thus: 

In memory of Ida Virginia Creutzborg, wife of Alfred Kimball Hills- 
This Library is erected by her Mother and Husband. 

May Fourth Nineteen Hundred and Eight. 

This last inscription indicates the date of Mrs. Hills' 
death. 

A small brass tablet in the inside bears the following 
statement: 

The Nucleus, consisting of 1889 volumes, for the foundation of this 
Library was donated to the Town by Adoniram Judson Greeley and his 
heirs in 1893. 

Another similar tablet in the interior is inscribed as 
follows: 

The land on which this Building stands was donated to the Town by 
Kimball Webster. 

Hills Memorial Library was dedicated with appropri- 
ate exercises on June 11, 1909, it being the twenty-second 
anniversary of the marriage of Dr. Alfred K. Hills and Ida 
Virginia Creutzborg. 

The library room was filled to its utmost capacity. 
An invocation was pronounced by Rev. Francis O. Tyler. 
The presentation address was delivered by Dr. Hills. The 
address of acceptance was given by Kimball Webster. Ap- 
propriate music was interspersed throughout the exercises. 

A few remarks were made by Rev. C. R. Upton of the 
Baptist church; also a short address by Rev. E. F. Blanch- 
ard, of the Congregational church. 

An able and scholarly dedicatory oration was pro- 
nounced by Arthur Stedman Hills, Esq., a prominent Bos- 
ton attorney, and a nephew of Dr. Hills. 

The library books were removed into the new quarters 
and placed upon the shelves, on Monday, June 7. Wednes- 



PUBLIC LIBRARIES 471 

day following was omitted as a library day, and the new 
building was opened for the first time for the exchange of 
books on Saturday, June 12, 1909, the next day after the 
dedication. 

At the annual town meeting, March 9, 1909, the fol- 
lowing action was taken : 

"Voted to have the names of all the men from this 
town — so far as may be known — who served as soldiers or 
sailors, or did other military duty in any Colonial or other 
war in which this country has been engaged from 1745 to 
1898, and who, at the time of enlistment or service, were 
residents of this town, suitably engraved on tablets and 
conspicuously placed in the new Hills Memorial Library 
building, and that the sum of four hundred and fifty dol- 
lars be appropriated to effect the same." 

The following committee was chosen: Kimball Web- 
ster, Philip J. Connell and Nathaniel Wentworth. 

Four metal tablets — three of them large and one small 
— were procured, beautifully engraved with three hundred 
and twenty-seven names of patriots from this town, and 
placed upon the walls of the trustees' room, over the vesti- 
bule, in July, 1909, by C. H. Buck & Co., of Boston, at 
an expense of four hundred and forty dollars. 

The names of these men — the number in each of the 
several wars, with other details — are mentioned elsewhere 
in this history. They were made up as follows: 
Colonial Wars, 1745-1760, 51. 

War of the Revolution, 1775-1783, 152. 

War of 1812, 1812-1815, 18. 

Mexican War, 1847, 1. 

War between the States, 1861-1865, 104. 

Spanish-American War, 1898, 1. 

327^ 

For the library year ending February 15, 1910, six 
hundred and eighty-six books were added to the shelves, 
making the total number as shown by the accession list 



472 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

at that time to be four thousand one hundred and fifty- 
three, which number included six volumes that had been 
lost or destroyed. 

These six hundred and eighty-six new books were sub- 
stantially all donated by parties benevolently inclined, who 
have the welfare of the library at heart. 

Dr. Hills presented about six hundred of this number, 
among which were many valuable works. Col William A. 
Crombie, of New York, a friend of Dr. Hills, donated some 
very good books. Hermon F. Dane, of Nashua, a native 
of this town, and born near Hudson Center, May 12, 1840, 
gave a complete set of twenty-three volumes, bound in calf, 
of the "Journal of Proceedings of the R. W. Grand Lodge 
of the United States, and the Sovereign Grand Lodge of 
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows," from its founda- 
tion, February, 1821, to 1908. Also "Journals of Proceed- 
ings of the R. W. Grand Lodge of New Hampshire," 2 
Vols, from 1844 to 1880. 

Mr. Dane had previously given many other valuable 
books to the library of his native town. 



CHAPTER XXXIV 

Secret and Fraternal Orders 
National Grange 

The National Grange was organized at Washington, 
D. C, December 4, 1867, by several men connected with 
the Agricultural Bureau there. 

The names of the seven founders of this order were: 
William Saunders, John Trimble, F. M. McDowell, J. R. 
Thompson, W. M. Ireland, O. H. Kelley and A. B. Grosh. 

These men were all familiar with the condition and 
needs of the farmers and their families throughout the 
United States, and realized the great necessity of organi- 
zation among them for the promotion of their interests and 
the fuller development of their intellectual powers and so- 
cial conditions. The grange was designed to meet and 
ameliorate these wants. 

Grange in New Hampshire 

In the summer of 1873, the National Grange commis- 
sioned Eben Thompson, of Vermont, a deputy to organize 
subordinate granges in New Hampshire. 

The first grange organized in this state was Gilman, 
No. 1, at Exeter, John D. Lyman, Master, which was insti- 
tuted by Mr. Thompson, August 19, 1873. 

At the date of the organization of Hudson Grange ten 
subordinate granges had been instituted in New Hamp- 
shire, all by Deputy Thompson : Bartlett, No. 2, at Kings- 
ton; Amoskeag, No. 3, at Manchester; Merrimack River, 
No. 4, at Canterbury; Lovell, No. 5, at Washington; Hales- 
town, No. 6, at Weare; Granite, No. 7, at Milford; Sulli- 
van, No. 8, at Newport; Claremont, No. 9, at Claremont, 
and Souhegan, No. 10, at Amherst. 
473 



474 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Hudson Grange, No. 11, was instituted in school 
house Number Six, on the evening of December 8, 1873, by 
Deputy Thompson, with twenty charter members — ten 
men and ten women. 

Names of Charter Members 



Kimball Webster, 
Tyler Thomas, 
Josiah K. Wheeler, 
James B. Merrill, 
Charles W. Spaldim 
Joseph Fuller, 
Lorenzo Fuller, 
Lucien M. Tolles, 
Henry A. Merrill, 
Rossill Hills, 



Mrs. Abiah Webster, 
Mrs. Eliza A. Thomas, 
Mrs. Abbie A. Wheeler, 
Mrs. Persis A. Merrill, 
Miss Susan Spalding, 
Mrs. Belinda Fuller, 
Mrs. Carrie S. Fuller, 
Mrs. Emily T. Tolles, 
Mrs. S. E. Merrill, 
Miss Lizzie J. Webster. 



The officers elected and installed at the organization 
meeting were: 



Master, 

Overseer, 

Lecturer, 

Steward, 

Assistant Steward, 

Chaplain, 

Treasurer, 

Secretary, 

Gate Keeper, 

Ceres, 

Pomona, 

Flora, 

Lady Asst. Steward, 



Kimball Webster. 
Josiah K. Wheeler. 
Charles W. Spalding. 
Joseph Fuller. 
Lorenzo Fuller. 
Henry A. Merrill. 
Lucien M. Tolles. 
James B. Merrill. 
Rossill F. Hills. 
Abbie A. Wheeler. 
Susan Spalding. 
Abiah Webster. 
Belinda Fuller. 



A little later, Joseph Fuller and Belinda Fuller each 
resigned from office, and Tyler Thomas and Persis A. 
Merrill were elected and installed to fill the vacancies. 

Hudson Grange participated in the organization of 
New Hampshire State Grange at Manchester, December 



SECRET AND FRATERNAL ORDERS 475 

23, 1873, at which date the state contained but seventeen 
subordinate granges. 

Of the twenty charter members assisting in the organ- 
ization of Hudson Grange, three withdrew, seven were 
suspended for non-payment of dues, and six died as loyal 
members on the following dates: Emily T. Tolles, June 
18, 1876; Rossill F. Hills, December 24, 1876; Tyler 
Thomas, November 24, 1887; James B. Merrill, May 9, 
1901; Persis A. Merrill, January 4, 1905; and Josiah K. 
Wheeler, June 10, 1911 ; while four of the twenty — Kimball 
Webster, Abiah Webster, Abbie A. Wheeler and Lizzie 
(Webster) Martin — still continue as members at this writ- 
ing—April, 1912. 

Masters 

Kimball Webster, 1874, '75, '76, '91, '92, '93, '94, '95, 
'96, '97. 

Lucien M. Tolles, 1877, '78. 

Tyler Thomas, 1879, '80, '85, '86. 

James B. Merrill, 1881, '82. 

Josiah K. Wheeler, 1883. 

Aldon E. Cummings, 1884. 

William A. Andrews, 1887, '88. 

George H. Abbott, 1889, '90. 

Arthur L. Joy, 1898, '99. 

Frank A. Connell, 1900, '02, '05. 

Charles A. McAfee, 1901. 

Frances M. Cummings, 1903, '04. 

Arthur S. Andrews, 1906, '07, '08, '09, '10. 

Gerry F. Parker, 1911. 

Allen B. Andrews, 1912. 

Places of Meetings 

Subsequent to its organization, December 8, 1873, 
three meetings of the grange were held at the house of its 
overseer, Josiah K. Wheeler. From January 14, to May 1, 
it met at the house of the lecturer, Charles W. Spalding. 



476 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Working tools, rituals, regalia and other paraphernalia 
were procured, and by-laws prepared and adopted. The 
first initiation of a candidate occurred on March 13, 1874. 

From about May 1, 1874, until June 30, 1876, the 
grange occupied Carnes hall. This was a small, unfinished 
room in the second story of a building then owned by James 
Carnes, and which now forms the southerly part of the 
Baker Brothers' store edifice near Taylor's Falls bridge. 
This, after being plastered, made a comfortable home for a 
small grange. 

At a meeting on January 19, 1876, it being impossible 
to arrange satisfactory terms with the owner about the 
rent of the hall, it was suggested that the grange build a 
hall, and thus have a home of its own. At this same meet- 
ing a committee was chosen to investigate and report as to 
a suitable location, and also a committee to procure de- 
signs. 

During its occupancy of Carnes hall — a period of a 
little more than two years — the grange held seventy-four 
meetings and initiated twenty-eight candidates. It was 
fairly prosperous for those early days in grange history, 
when it was far more difficult to secure members than it is 
at the present time. 

At a meeting held on February 16, 1876, the following 
resolution was passed. 

Resolved that we build a hall provided there are sufficient funds 
raised by taking stock, the stock all to be owned by members of Hudson 
grange. 

A little later this association was incorporated as 
"Hudson Grange, No. 11, Patrons of Husbandry," of Hud- 
son, N. H. 

Subscriptions for stock were secured, a building com- 
mittee chosen and all necessary arrangements perfected 
for building a "grange home" for the use and benefit of 
Hudson Grange. 

A location on the land of James B. Merrill, a little 
south of the Methodist church, was secured, and building 



SECRET AND FRATERNAL ORDERS 477 

operations were begun in the early spring of 1876; it was 
completed and occupied by the grange for the first time, 
September 6, 1876. 

The building consisted of a basement and two small 
tenements — a grange hall with two ante-rooms. The attic 
was used as a banquet room. The grange room was not 
large, but of sufficient capacity to accommodate the num- 
ber of members comprising Hudson Grange at that time — 
a little less than fifty. It was moderate in size, and easy 
of access, pleasant and admirably arranged, and was a 
model "grange home." 

It was the headquarters of Hudson Grange for a little 
more than fourteen years, during which period it held two 
hundred and seventy-three meetings and received by initia- 
tion thirty-four members. 

From various causes the number of members became 
somewhat reduced, and as early as the spring of 1890, sev- 
eral of the stockholders, dissatisfied with the amount of 
dividends received from their investment, advocated the 
sale of the property. Others, including some of the 
largest stockholders, were desirous of retaining it for the 
benefit of the grange. 

In the fall of 1890 this property was sold at auction to 
Lucien M. Tolles, in accordance with a majority vote of 
the stockholders. 

This was a very serious and discouraging blow to the 
loyal and devoted members of the little grange. 

At a meeting on November 5, a communication was 
received from Nashua Grange — which had also become 
considerably depleted in membership — suggesting a plan 
of consolidation of the Nashua and Hudson Granges. This 
project was almost unanimously rejected by this grange. 

During these fourteen years the grange membership 
included a number of able and interesting debaters, and at 
nearly every meeting when the time was not devoted to 
some necessary grange work, a debate or discussion was 
held on some interesting theme of the day. As a result 



478 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

nearly all the practical questions of the farm, the house- 
hold and the home, and all the live subjects relating to the 
town, state and nation, were discussed with interest and 
ability. 

The first of December, 1890, the grange removed to 
the house of James E. Merrill on Central street, and there 
occupied a room in the second story of the ell, where it re- 
mained for five years. 

Those five years included the darkest and most dis- 
couraging period in the history of Hudson Grange. Its 
membership had dwindled to a number less than twenty. 
Fifteen meetings, only, were held, and one candidate initi- 
ated, in all that time. A few of the members became de- 
sirous of surrendering the charter, and the prospects for 
the future looked dark indeed. 

Yet, officers continued to be elected and installed an- 
nually, the dues to the State grange were paid regularly 
and promptly, the Pomona grange by invitation was enter- 
tained several times at the Methodist vestry, and all neces- 
sary expenses promptly paid by a loyal membership deter- 
mined to preserve the charter with its original number, and 
to await patiently for the dawn of a new and enduring 
prosperity. 

The realization of these hopes began in 1895. In the 
summer of that year George G. Andrews, a merchant at 
the Bridge, erected a storehouse thirty by sixty feet, ground 
dimensions, and two stories high. By fair prospects of fu- 
ture rental he was induced to make the second story of the 
structure into a hall, twenty-nine by thirty-eight feet, with 
two convenient ante-rooms. A banqueting room with a 
small kitchen was installed in the attic. 

This hall was of moderate size, but was well arranged 
and convenient for a "grange home," or a lodge room. 

Hudson Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 94, was instituted 
about the time this building was completed, and occupied 
the hall for a lodge room. 



SECRET AND FRATERNAL ORDERS 479 

Hudson Commandery, No. 139, United Order Golden 
Cross, organized May 27, 1881, also occupied the above 
quarters. 

November 16, 1895, twenty-one applications for mem- 
bership in the grange were received and referred, together 
with two requests for reinstatement. These applications 
were from many of the most substantial citizens of Hudson. 

The last meeting at the house of Mr. Merrill was held 
on December 4. Two more applications were then re- 
ceived, increasing the number to twenty-five. 

On December 12, 1895, the new hall was occupied by 
the grange for the first time, and the first and second de- 
grees of the order were then conferred upon twenty candi- 
dates. Two days later three other candidates were given 
the same degrees. 

From then until the present writing Hudson Grange 
has enjoyed an almost uninterrupted season of continued 
prosperity, and has steadily, and at times rapidly, increased 
its membership. 

Soon after the new Odd Fellows building was com- 
pleted the grange removed from Andrews hall to that 
place, which it occupied for the first time February 23, 
1903. 

It had remained at Andrews' hall eight years and two 
months, where it had held one hundred and sixty-five meet- 
ings, and at its removal it had a membership of one hun- 
dred and sixty. 

At the date of this writing — April, 1912 — it is still oc- 
cupying Odd Fellows' hall, where it has held about one 
hundred and six meetings, not including any such as were 
convened exclusively for the purpose of receiving and as- 
signing proposals for membership. 

The total number of meetings held by this grange 
since its organization is about seven hundred and forty- 
eight. 

Thus Hudson Grange, after an existence of more than 
thirty-eight years, appears to be in a prosperous condition, 



480 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

and we believe it will continue to increase in influence and 
usefulness as well as in numbers. 

On September 1, 1911, its membership, as returned to 
the secretary of the State grange, was three hundred and 
twenty-six, which has since been increased. 

Its present master, Allen B. Andrews, its fifteenth 
consecutive master, is an energetic young man, born in 
Hudson, October 18, 1889, the son of Arthur S. and Lin- 
nie F. (Butler) Andrews. He is the third master of Hud- 
son Grange bearing the name of Andrews. 

Odd Fellowship in Hudson 

Prior to 1895, two lodges of Odd Fellows had existed 
in Nashua for many years. Quite a considerable number 
of the young and middle-aged men of Hudson became 
members of these lodges. 

For several years previous to the above date the or- 
ganization of a lodge in Hudson had been discussed by 
these members, but no decisive action had been taken. 

Hudson Lodge, No. 94, was instituted October 15, 
1895, in the new Andrews hall by officers of the Grand 
Lodge of New Hampshire, in answer to sixteen petition- 
ers, fourteen of whom were present and became charter 
members. The names of these were: Charles C. Leslie, 
Charles A. Daniels, Henry F. Lund, Joshua VV. Jones, 
William Hutchinson, Walter R. Coombs, Elmer D. Clem- 
ent, Charles A. McAfee, George H. Abbott, John C. 
Groves, Horace A. Martin, Charles H. Bachelder, Walter 
F. McQuesten and Willis L. Fuller. 

In the evening of the same day twenty-six candidates 
were elected to membership and initiated into the order, 
the entire number thus becoming forty. 

Charles C. Leslie was installed Noble Grand, Joshua 
W. Jones, Secretary and George H. Abbott, Treasurer. 

As the membership of the lodge increased the build- 
ing of an Odd Fellows hall was agitated, which agitation 
continued for several years without any practical result. 



SECRET AND FRATERNAL ORDERS 481 

In 1902 an association was organized and incorporated 
for this purpose. Many members of the lodge, as well as 
many outsiders, became stockholders, a lot was purchased 
on Central street, and a commodious and convenient build- 
ing erected upon it. This building contained a large and 
well arranged "lodge room," with suitable ante-rooms and 
other necessary accommodations, as well as a spacious ban- 
queting room, with kitchen connected, in the basement. 

Another large hall, called Association hall, was fitted 
up in the first story, with a roomy stage and other needed 
appointments. 

This building was finished, furnished and the lodge 
room dedicated ready for occupation, early in 1903, to which 
the lodge removed in February of that year, and which it 
has since occupied as its home. 

It is a living and vigorous organization, with a mem- 
bership of about one hundred (1912), and by its brotherly 
aid in sickness, and the liberal appropriations from its 
funds to the "widow and orphan," is quietly diffusing its 
genial influence in Hudson. 

Echo Rebekah Lodge 

Soon after the organization of Hudson Lodge, No. 94, 
I. O. O. F., in October, 1895, the formation of a Rebekah 
Lodge was suggested and advocated. Several meetings 
were held to discuss the venture, which were addressed by 
some of the grand officers. These efforts bore fruit in the 
institution of Echo Rebekah Lodge, No. 73, in Andrews 
hall, on May 29, 1896, by G. M. Clinton Collins, assisted 
by other grand officers. 

There were twelve petitioners, eleven of whom pre- 
sented themselves and assumed obligations as charter 
members of the new lodge. Their names were: Charles 
A. Daniels, Willis L. Fuller, Adelia E. Fuller, Lilla J. 
Woodward, Helen M. Lund, H. F. Lund, Susie E. Mc- 
Afee, S. Rose Nason, Lucy A. Joy, H. Lizzie Blodgett 
and Frances M. Cummings. 



482 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

At the evening session fifty-four candidates received 
the degree, making a membership for the new lodge of 
sixty-five. Frances M. Cummings was installed Noble 
Grand, E. Drusilla Walker, Secretary, and Hannah E. Con- 
nell, Treasurer. 

It continued to hold its meetings twice each month, at 
Andrews hall, until February, 1903, when it removed to 
the new Odd Fellows hall, where it still remains. 

It is a vigorous organization and has a membership of 
one hundred and fifty-seven, (1912). 

Hudson Commandery 

Hudson Commandery, No. 139, United Order of the 
Golden Cross, was instituted May 27, 1881, in the Grange 
hall. 

It is purely a beneficiary order, and notwithstanding 
that it had a fair number of charter members when organ- 
ized, and for some years afterwards, and added many mem- 
bers by initiation, owing to deaths and withdrawals its 
membership has become very much depleted. 

It still exists (1912) and has always paid its death ben- 
efits fully and promptly, but its future outlook is not en- 
couraging. 



CHAPTER XXXV 

Highways and Byways 

Previous to its charter, and while Nottingham re- 
mained a part of Dunstable, there is no evidence found of 
any highways being laid out on the east side of the Merri- 
mack, now in the town of Hudson. 

The first tax list for the town of Nottingham, made by 
the selectmen in 1733, contained the names of fifty-five 
persons, of whom twelve at least were residents in that sec- 
tion of the town which now forms a part of Tyngsborough, 
Mass., eight, in what is now Litchfield, and about seventeen, 
within the present limits of Pelham. 

This would show that at that time the population of 
what is now Hudson, did not exceed twenty families, nearly 
all of which were settled a short distance east of the Merri- 
mack, between the town line of Hudson and Litchfield on 
the north, and the state line on the south, a distance of 
about seven miles. 

No roads had been laid out and constructed for the 
accommodation of these pioneer settlers, and they traveled 
from house to house by paths that had become worn by 
common usage. With few culverts or bridges, these crude 
roadways wound over many rough places, but served a very 
good purpose for their horse-back riding, and for the small 
amount of traffic that was done by ox teams. 

The first attempt to lay out a public highway by the 
town of Nottingham, as found recorded, was February 15, 
1734, a little more than one year after the incorporation of 
that town. 

The selectmen laid out a highway four poles wide from 
Dracut line, near Long Pond, to Natticook, (Litchfield) 
line. It passed below Musquash dam, and to the north- 
east side of Davenport meadow. 
483 



484 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

At the annual meeting, of the same year, the town by 
vote refused to accept the road as laid out. A second high- 
way was laid out by the selectmen, March 26, 1746-7, from 
Litchfield, southerly through the town. At this time the 
province line had been settled and adjusted, so the road 
ended at the Tyngsborough line. 

It began at Litchfield line near the house of John 
Robinson, and was laid out southerly, passing near the fol- 
lowing residences: Nathaniel Hills, John Marsh, Eleazer 
Cummings, John Marshall, Deacon Samuel Greeley, Thom- 
as Pollard, Lieut. Joseph Winn, Samuel Burbank, Samuel 
Huston, and to the province line. The road was three rods 
wide. 

At a town meeting, June 8, 1747, "it was voted not to 
accept the highway as laid out." 

As a large percentage of the inhabitants of the town 
lived near this road as laid out, and would seem to have 
been well accommodated by it, it is hard to understand at 
this time why it should have been rejected. 

March 19, 1744, when Nottingham was a district, a road 
was laid out at the east side by the selectmen, three poles 
wide. This road began near the house of Rev. Mr. Merrill, 
and ran easterly over land of Fletcher, Col. Tyng and part 
of Kimball's farm, to Samuel Butler's land and to land of 
Henry Baldwin and between Baldwin's farm and Kimball's 
farm to highway leading to Londonderry. Thence partly 
easterly and all on Kimball's farm to Baldwin's bridge over 
Beaver brook, and partly easterly through Baldwin's farm 
to Dracut line. October 24, Joseph Hamblet and John 
Marshall, selectmen, laid out a highway at the east side of 
the district of Nottingham, from Dracut line to Joseph 
Hamblet's, and Deacon Butler's house, "and so across his 
farm and up Beaver creek to Londonderry line. The high- 
way is three poles wide from one end to the other." 

It will be remembered that at that time the district of 
Dracut bounded the district o Nottingham on the east, 
and Pelham as incorporated two years later was made up, 



HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS 485 

about one-third from the east part of Nottingham and 
about two-thirds from that part of Dracut that fell int 
New Hampshire on the settlement of the province line in 
1741. This highway, or so much of it as has not been dis- 
continued, is now principally in Pelham. 

March 26, 1747, a road was laid out three poles wide 
from "the Little bridge, so called, to Hardy's ferry." 

The same was again laid out, or changed, December 
5, 1757, from Lieut. Winn's field, westerly over the Little 
bridge, so called, and so to "the road that is now trod to 
Hardy's ferry." "Derry Lane" was laid out March 26, 
1747, two poles wide, from the road that leads to Litchfield 
to Londonderry road. In 1749, it was voted by the town 
to change the above mentioned road "between Roger 
Chase's and Edward Spalding's by the Farms burying 
ground; running between Ezekiel Greele's and Reuben 
Greele's and Samuel Hills'." In 1791, November 6, the 
town again changed this road as follows: "beginning at 
the north-east corner of the Farms burying place, and 
from thence north-easterly two poles wide to the Derry 
road." 

March 27, 1747, a road was laid out three poles wide 
from the highway that leads to Litchfield, near the Blod- 
gett cemetery, and running easterly by the Chase hill and 
over Bush hill to Pelham line. 

The Searles, or Spear road, north of Bush hill was laid 
out three poles wide, March 27, 1747, and began at the road 
last described. It thence ran easterly over land of Glover, 
and at the south side of his house and on Glover's land, and 
on land of Searles, and at the north side of the house of 
Ebenezer Blodgett, and at the north side of the house of 
James Marsh ; thence easterly on Marsh's land to land of 
Benjamin Frost; thence running on land of said Frost and 
land of Onesiphorus Marsh to Pelham line. 



486 history of hudson 

Part of Derry Road 

May 12, 1747, " A road viewed and laid out three poles 
wide. Beginning upon Derry line near Nathaniel Hills 
Jr's. From thence running by Thomas Marsh's dwelling 
house, and so running by John Marsh's house and James 
Hills' and Joseph Pollard's, and Ezekiel Hills' and Henry 
Hills' and so running between Ezekiel Greele's house and 
barn; Thence running to John Marshall's land, running on 
said Marshall's land and on Dutton's land to a pine tree." 

Road Over Musquash Bridge 

This road was laid out May 21, 1747, and seems to 
have been a piece of the same highway laid out February 
15, 1734, and rejected a little later. 

County Road, 1749 

After a road had been twice laid out by the selectmen, 
through the town of Nottingham, north and south, and had 
been twice rejected by a vote of the town, a petition by the 
selectmen was presented to the Court of General Quarter 
Sessions at Portsmouth in 1748, for the appointment of a 
committee to lay out such highway. The court appointed 
as a committee, John Goffe, Joseph Blanchard and Joseph 
French, who were among the most able men in the prov- 
ince. The report of the committee was dated February 9, 
1749. It was given in detail, with all the bearings and 
measurements included. A great part of this detail will be 
omitted here, but many of the more important landmarks 
will be noted. 

The committee said, "that we have attended to the 
service, and have laid out a highway from Litchfield through 
Nottingham West, southerly, to the province line; as near 
the river as we apprehend is of most convenience for the 
public and for the best advantage of the inhabitants of said 



HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS 487 

town of Nottingham West." They began at a pine tree in 
the northerly line of said Nottingham West. They ran 
from thence to the westerly side of a house William Taylor 
built. Thence southerly to Samuel Hill's house; thence 
southerly to a stake near Roger Chase's house; thence to 
Josiah Cummings' corn barn, and to Mr. Marsh's fence 
near his house; thence the committee ran easterly across 
the meadow fifty-two rods, which was but two and one-half 
rods wide; thence south-easterly to near John Marshall's 
barn; thence to the east end of Abraham Page's barn; 
thence to an oak by Benjamin Whittemore's house; thence 
to an oak near Samuel Greeley's house; thence to a stake 
east of Joseph Winn's barn; thence south through said 
Winn's orchard, 18 rods, which 18 rods was but two and 
one-half rods wide; thence to a stake near Joseph Winn, 
Jr. 's corn barn; thence to Stephen Chase's fence; thence 
to a stake four rods west of Burbank's barn; thence four 
rods west of Burbank's house; thence to a stake four rods 
west of Samuel Merrill's house; thence to a dry pine tree 
marked south of the "Great" bridge; thence to the prov- 
ince line. The road was laid out three rods wide with the 
exceptions before noticed. 

This highway, with a few unimportant changes that 
have been made, is the same now traveled from Litchfield 
by the Wheeler place and by Charles W. Spalding's, the 
Derry road and Library street, and following the Bay State 
electric railway to Stewart's Corner and Tyngsborough 
line. 

Province Line to Pelham 

June 15, 1749, a road was laid out three poles wide, 
beginning at the province line, leading from Captain 
Fletcher's to Daniel Merrill's; and running easterly by the 
north side of Daniel Merrill's house and to the north side 
of Thomas Brown's house, and near the Widow Spalding's 
house and to Pelham line. This is the same road that now 



488 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

crosses Tyngsborough line east of the River road and runs 
easterly near the T. S. Ford house, and by Gowing's. 

The Daniel Merrill place was probably the same as the 
Ford place, the Brown place the same as E. S. Gowing's, 
and the Spalding place now the George T. Gowing place. 

Nacook Brook and Wind-Mill Hill 

June 23, 1749, a road was laid out three poles wide 
from near Thomas Brown's, and crossing Nacook brook, 
and over Wind-mill hill, and running to Seth Wyman's 
corner, and the south side of Hezekiah Hamblet's house. 
The greater part of this road has been discontinued. 

Wason's Road to Pelham 

This road was changed in 1749, and again November 
11, 1760, and also September 14, 1764, and again July 6, 
1767. 

Road over Corliss Hill, and Haselton Road 

In 1748, a road was laid out two poles wide, beginning 
on Corliss hill, near the house of Thomas Kenney, and 
running south-westerly and westerly, and crossing the Has- 
elton road a little south of A. W. Haselton's house, and it 
continued south-westerly into the Pelham road west of 
Chase hill. It has all been discontinued. 

The Back Lowell Road 

Laid out October 15, 1749, three poles wide. This 
road began near the Rev. Mr. Merrill's orchard and ran 
northerly, and over the Burns hill to the Lowell road near 
the Blodgett cemetery. There has been very little change 
in this road. 



HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS 489 



Belknap Place Easterly 

October 13, 1749, a road was laid out two poles wide 
from the County road near the Belknap place, northerly 
from the brook, and running easterly on Page's and Clark's 
land to land of Abraham Page, Jr. 

October 13, 1749, a road from the last described road 
to the road leading to Hudson Center, was laid out two 
rods wide. 

Rocky Hill Road 

This road was laid out two poles wide, October 13, 
1749, and began near John Marshall's well (now Charles 
W. Spalding's). It ran easterly and over the Rocky hills, 
so called, into the Barrett's hill road, then called the Lon- 
donderry road. It has all been discontinued. 

Rev. Mr. Merrill's Road 

October 1, 1751, a road was laid out, partly for the ac- 
commodation of Mr. Merrill, from near his house to near 
Deacon Greeley's. This road was two rods wide, and a 
greater part of it has been discontinued. 

From County Road to Pelham 

This road began at what is now Library street, at 
Ferry street, and was laid out three rods wide, August 31, 
1752. Its course was easterly, south-easterly and easterly, 
to Hudson Center, and south-easterly over Corliss hill, and 
to Pelham line. It is called the Pelham road, and has had 
but few minor changes since it was laid out in 1752, and 
was accepted March 19, 1753. 



490 history of hudson 

Bowman Road 

The Bowman road, so called, was laid out two poles 
wide, January 19, 1754. It extended from the road formerly- 
laid out, to Joseph Gould's house, at the south-east part of 
the town, and has all been discontinued. 

Old Daniel Smith Road 

This road, which has all been discontinued, was laid 
out February 3, 1755, two poles wide. It was on Bush hill 
and extended to the Smith place, then owned by John 
Huey. 

November 9, 1757, the selectmen laid out two roads, 
each two rods wide. One was on land of Seth Wyman, 
Henry Snow and Hezekiah Hamblet. The other began 
near Daniel Simond's house, and ran southerly, on land of 
Henry Snow and land of Joseph Butler to the road that 
leads from John Hamblet's to Hezekiah Hamblet's. Proba- 
bly both of these roads have all been discontinued. 

September, 8, 1762, a road two rods wide was laid out 
which began at the Pelham road on the south side of Bush 
hill and ran westerly and south-westerly by the old Tim 
Fuller place, and southerly and south-westerly into the 
Back road near the old Elias Barron place, thence by the 
old Davenport road to Stewart's Corner. It has been 
largely discontinued. 

September 14, 1764, a road was laid out two rods wide, 
from the road at the south side of Bush hill to Pelham line. 

Smith Road 

In 1765, a road two rods wide was laid out from Sam- 
uel Smith's land, westerly by land of Lieut. Joseph Butler, 
and southerly by the James Marsh heirs' land to the town 
road. This was near the Dustin B. Smith place. 

In 1765, a road was laid out from Thomas Brown's 
house to the province line. 



HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS 491 

September 26, 1773, a road was laid out from the town 
road near Moses Johnson's, south-westerly, to the province 
line. This road was three rods wide. 

Also another road, three rods wide, beginning at said 
last road near a small brook, and running westerly to the 
County road. This last has long been known as the Burse 
road. 

June 29, 1773, a road was laid out from the London- 
derry road and town line, near Lieut. Hugh Smith's, to the 
Londonderry road which leads by Thomas Smith's. This 
was in the Smith district. 

November 1, 1774, a piece of road was laid out on the 
south side of Bush hill, running westerly and south-westerly, 
which has since been discontinued. 

1780, the road at the east part of Hudson by the 
McCann place, southerly, to Pelham line, was laid out two 
rods wide. 1781, a road, two rods wide was laid out from 
John Smith's house to the Hugh Smith road, and by 
Thomas Smith's cider mill to Samuel Smith's house. This 
road was in the Smith district. A piece of this road was 
to be exchanged for a piece of road laid out in 1765. 

April 19, 1789, a road was laid out from the place now 
known as the Donahue place, northerly to the Windham 
road near the Patrick Donahue place. This road was dis- 
continued November 4, 1844. 

October 22, 1791, a road two rods wide was laid out 
from the County road, east of the house of Eleazer Cum- 
mings, thence easterly to the Ferry road. This has some- 
times been called the Haverhill road. 

November 20, 1791, a road two rods wide was laid out 
from near the house of David Tarbell, southerly, to near 
the north end of Otternick pond, and south-westerly to 
the road leading to Keller's ferry. This was a part of 
Barrett's hill road. 

December 20, 1792, a road was laid out from the Derry 
road, two rods wide, southerly, to what is now the Chase 
place, and continuing southerly and south-westerly to the 



492 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Barrett's hill road and still southerly to Henry Hale's, now 
Hudson Center. 

April 3, 1793, the Tiger road, so called, was laid out 
two poles wide. It began at the Robinson road, near the 
house ot Benjamin Kidder, now the Wood, or Batchelder 
place, and ran southerly to Barrett's hill near the house of 
Elijah Marshall. It has all been discontinued. 

February 19, 1797, a road two rods wide was laid out 
from the town road near David Tarbell's house, thence 
running northerly and westerly, and by various bearings, 
by Jonathan Marsh's and Amos Davis' to the Derry road. 
This is known as the Hiram Marsh road. 

March 3, 1800, a piece of road two rods wide was laid 
out near Lawrence Corner. 

Bridle Road 

An act was passed by the Legislature, June 16, 1801, 
authorizing the towns of Nottingham West and Windham 
to establish a bridle road over Beaver brook, from Law- 
rence Corner to Windham road in Windham. The road 
was laid out and built, subject to gates and bars. April 
12, 1880, this was laid out as an open road, fifty feet wide. 

In 1801, a road two rods wide was laid out near Law- 
rence Corner. 

March 11, 1806, the Haselton road was laid out two 
rods wide from the Pelhatn road, southerly, to the Bush 
hill road, near Daniel Chase's barn. 

September 28, 1807, a road two rods wide was accept- 
ed from near Ens. David Lawrence's, and running west- 
erly and south-westerly to land of Jonathan Lawrence. 
(From Lawrence Corner towards Hudson Center.) 

August 27, 1810, a short piece of highway was laid out 
near the North meeting-house, through land of John Tal- 
lant. This was probably the road east of the cemetery 
and common. 



HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS 493 



Wason Road 



March 12, 1816, "Voted to open a road from the road 
leading to Pawtucket bridge to the house of Thomas B. 
Wason." Mr. Wason then lived on the south side of Bush 
hill where George H. Davis now lives. The road was not 
constructed at that time. 

The above described road, formerly known as the 
"Wason Road," was laid out by a court's committee about 
1821, and constructed about one year later. 

November 28, 1822, a road was laid out two and one- 
half rods wide, from Stewart's Corner, as now known, 
south-easterly, until it forms a junction with the Back 
Lowell road. This is a part of the Lowell road. 

May 15, 1820, a road one and one-half rods wide was 
laid out from the County road near Otternick brook, west- 
terly, about one hundred rods to the carding mill of Capt. 
Joseph and Oliver Pollard. This road was discontinued 
March 14, 1837. 

August 14, 1824, it was voted to accept the report of 
the committee, which was that there should be a road "be- 
ginning at Hamblet's Ferry; thence easterly to the road 
leading from the North meeting house to Litchfield." 
This is now a part of Ferry street. 

February 10, 1827, the Howe road at the north-east 
part of the town was laid out. 

February 10, 1827, the Derry road was straightened 
between Elijah Hills' (the Alfred K. Hills place) and Wil- 
lard Spalding's. The old road was discontinued March 11, 
1828, and March, 1855. 

March 13, 1827, "The selectmen were authorized to 
lay out a highway from Hamblet's Ferry to the South 
meeting house." 

June 8, 1827, "Voted to authorize the selectmen to 
lay out a highway from Hamblet's Ferry, by Moses Had- 
ley's, to the North meeting house." This is the road from 
the bridge to Hudson Center. 



494 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

In 1828, the County road was straightened in several 
places between Taylor's Falls bridge and Stewart's Corner. 

A part of the Hardy's ferry road was discontinued 
March 13, 1832. 

February 9, 1835, the selectmen were authorized to 
lay out a road from near Elbridge Dow's to James Smith's, 
3d. This is a part of the Windham road, from a little east 
of Hudson Center to the Eaton place. 

March 31, 1837, "Voted to authorize the selectmen to 
lay out a new highway from James Smith's to the road 
near Lawrence Corner." This was also a part of the 
Windham road. March 8, 1842, the road between the Bar- 
rett's hill road and Hudson Center was straightened. The 
road over Swan hill was discontinued by a vote, November 

4. 1844. March 9, 1844, the Back Lowell road was straight- 
ened, south of the Timothy Ford place to the new Lowell 
road, as laid out November 28, 1822. March 10, 1844, the 
road on Barrett's hill, near the house of William T. Bald- 
win, (now William A. Andrews) was straightened. April 

5. 1845, the road was straightened from the "Senter" bury- 
ing ground, to near the house of Thomas Senter, Jr., two 
and one-half rods wide 

September 30, 1852, the highway from the "Senter" 
burying ground, northerly, to Londonderry line, was laid 
out by the county commissioners, but was not constructed 
until 1854. 

Bridge Road 

A highway over Taylor's Falls bridge was laid out by 
the county commissioners, in 1854. This began at a point 
in the center of the highway, in the city of Nashua, at the 
railroad crossing, northerly of the passenger depot of the 
Concord railroad in said city, running south-easterly along 
the center line of the existing highway to Taylor's Falls 
bridge; thence easterly in the center line of said bridge, 
through said bridge, and to a point in said highway in 



HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS 495 

Hudson, S. 30° 49' E. of an elm tree, and thirty feet from 
it; said tree being about three hundred and forty feet from 
the easterly end of said Taylor's Falls bridge. 

"The above described, is to be the center line of said 
new highway." It was laid out " three rods wide the whole 
distance, with an addition of seventy feet on the north side 
of said center line, through the bed of said Merrimack 
River; and with an addition of fifteen feet on the south 
side." 

The boundary line between the town of Hudson and 
the city of Nashua was determined to be in the center of 
the bridge, an equal distance between the two abutments. 

May 26, 1857, the selectmen, authorized by a vote of 
the town, made a change in the road north of the Barrett's 
hill road and leading to the Deny road. 

May 27, 1857, a road two rods wide was laid out from 
near the Congregational church, south-easterly, to near the 
pound. It was widened one-half a rod in 1902. 

Webster Street 

May 6, 1859, the county commissioners laid out the 
highway, now called Webster street, three rods wide. This 
highway extends from near Taylor's Falls bridge, in a 
northerly direction, to the former Litchfield road, near the 
house formerly of Josiah K. Wheeler. It is some more 
than one mile in length. It was constructed in 1861. 

Seavey Road 

This road was laid out by the selectmen, September 
27, 1862. It began southerly of the house of Simeon Rob- 
inson, near the brook; thence running northerly and north- 
easterly to near the school house in district number seven; 
thence north-easterly and easterly, partly by roads formerly 
laid out, to the road leading to Steele's. It was laid out 
two and one-half rods wide. 



496 history of hudson 

Barrett's Hill Road 

September 5, 1873, this road was widened and straight- 
ened from the William H. Chase house, (now C. E. 
Walch's) south-westerly and westerly, to the Derry road, 
near Library street. The easterly part remained two rods 
wide and the westerly part was laid out three rods wide. 

Part of Library Street 

December 12, 1874, a part of what is now Library 
street was laid out by the selectmen three rods wide. It 
began at the junction of the Barrett's hill road with the 
Derry road, and extended southerly to the corner of land 
of A. G. Hutchins. 

Part of Derry Road 

August 26, 1876, a piece of the Derry road, by land of 
George O. Sanders, from the junction of Library street to 
the junction of Ferry street, was laid out three rods wide. 

Litchfield Road 

August 21, 1877, the selectmen widened and straight- 
ened the Litchfield road, from a stone bound on the west 
side of the highway, standing on a line between Hudson 
and Litchfield, thence southerly to the house of Josiah K. 
Wheeler. The road was laid out three rods wide. 

Breakneck Hill Road 

A road at Breakneck hill, in the north-east part of the 
town, was laid out three rods wide, December 13, 1877. 

Ferry Street 

Ferry street was widened and straightened December 
1, 1886, from land of John E. Hanscom easterly to the 
Cutter road. It was laid out fifty feet wide. 




JOHN J. BAKER 






HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS 491 



Baker Street 



This street was laid out July 23, 1889. It extended 
from the Derry road, northerly to land of the Methodist 
parsonage, thence easterly to the Derry road. The first 
part was laid out fifty feet wide and the last part was laid 
out forty feet wide. 

Cutler Road 

In June, 1889, the county commissioners laid out a 
road from the Londonderry road north of the John Barrett 
place, and running south-westerly to the Putnam road, and 
westerly over the Putnam road to John D. Marshall's; 
thence south-westerly to the Litchfield line, and through a 
corner of Litchfield, and partly by the old Cutler road to 
Litchfield line, and south-westerly to the Derry road near 
Justin E. Hills'. This road was laid out three rods wide. 

Derry Road 

July 3, 1889, this street was widened and straightened 
from the junction of Baker street and the Derry road at 
the land of George G. Andrews, westerly, to a stone bound 
ten feet south of the Sherman wheelwright shop. It was 
laid out fifty feet wide. 

Groves' Road 

December 1, 1889, the selectmen laid out a highway 
two rods wide from near the house of Robert Groves, west- 
erly to the Lowell road. 

Lowell Road 

In 1895, at the time of the building of the electric 
street railway from Hudson bridge to the Tyngsborough 
line, through Hudson, the selectmen widened and straight- 



498 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

eneci the highway the whole distance. It was laid out three 
rods wide and substantial granite bounds were set on the 
west line at each angle and curve. 

Library Street 

August 10, 1896, a part of Library street was widened 
and straightened from the south side of Ferry street to the 
north side of Central street, formerly the Lowell road. 
The street was laid out three rods wide and was bounded 
on the west side. 

School Street 

This street was laid out November 10, 1897, from Li- 
brary street on the south side of the Webster school build- 
ing, westerly three hundred feet and was made fifty feet 
wide. 

June 18, 1899, the highway westerly from the Congre- 
gational church was straightened by making an addition 
to the northerly side of said highway, for a distance of 
three hundred and eighty-one feet. 

Water Street 

June 26, 1899, Water street was laid out by the select- 
men from Library street, easterly, to the north-west corner 
of land of William G. Wood. The street was laid out 
thirty-three feet wide. 

This chapter contains a brief sketch or description of 
almost one hundred highways, or streets, that have been 
laid out, either by authority of the town or county, from 
the date of the incorporation of Nottingham in 1733, to 
1900, a period of one hundred and sixty-seven years. 
These comprise nearly all of which any record can be 
found, and a considerable percentage of this number have 
been discontinued. A great part of the highways in the 
north-east part of the town, or so much as was annexed 



HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS 499 

from Londonderry in 1778, were laid out by that town be- 
fore the annexation. 

State Highways 

By the provisions of Chapter XXXV, of the laws of 
1905, the state highway law became sufficiently matured in 
this state so that some of the towns began to raise and ap- 
propriate money for the permanent repairs of some of their 
main highways. 

To entitle a town of the size of Hudson to receive 
state aid in these permanent improvements, the town was 
required to raise and appropriate for that purpose one 
dollar and fifty cents on every one thousand dollars of its 
valuation. 

At the annual town meeting in March, 1905, Hudson 
voted to raise and appropriate for the permanent repairs of 
its main highways the sum of $1,077. 

This entitled the town to state aid, which was forty 
per cent of the amount appropriated, or $430.80. The sum 
total of these two amounts was a little more than fifteen 
hundred dollars. This was the joint amount to be ex- 
pended for permanent improvements of its highways in the 
town of Hudson for 1905 by the selectmen, with the con- 
sent and advice of the governor and council, and under the 
supervision of the state engineer. 

Through some misunderstanding or failure to agree 
between some members of the governor's council and the 
selectmen as to what roads the betterments should be ap- 
plied, the permanent improvements of the highways in 
Hudson were not commenced, and the appropriation made 
for that purpose was held over until the next year. 

In March, 1906, substantially the same amount was 
raised for state roads as in 1905, which for the two years, 
including the state aid, made a little more than $3,000 to 
be expended. 

A contract was made to construct a first-class macadam 
road, beginning at the end of Taylor's Falls bridge, thence 



500 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

through Postoffice square to Derry road, and by the Derry 
road as far as the joint fund would pay for its construction. 

The construction of the road was finished during the 
fall of 1906, from the bridge to near the house of Alden E. 
Cummings, some more than one-half a mile. This road 
was well constructed and has given good satisfaction, and 
after having had six years of constant wear is still a good 
macadam road. 

In 1907 the amount of $1,134 was raised by the town 
for state roads, which together with the state aid made the 
joint amount to be expended $1,587.60. The macadam 
road was extended on the Derry road as far as the gate at 
the Catholic cemetery. 

In 1908 the required amount was raised to entitle the 
town to receive state aid, and was expended. 

As the valuation of the town increased a little from 
year to year, so the appropriation for state roads became 
proportionately a little greater. For 1908 a macadam road 
was constructed, beginning at Postoffice square and follow- 
ing Central street as far as the house of Charles E. Cum- 
mings. 

The appropriation for 1909, together with the state 
aid, was about $1,610. This was applied to Central street 
and the Lowell road. The macadam road was extended 
from the point where it was left in 1908, as far as Otternick 
brook, southerly of the overhead bridge. Up to this time 
for four years, the state roads in Hudson had been con- 
structed by contract each year. 

In 1910, a macadam road was constructed from the 
Catholic cemetery, where it was left in 1907, following the 
Derry road to near the house of Charles VV. Spalding. 

This year for the first time the construction was done 
by the town, through its selectmen under the direction and 
supervision of the state engineer. 

In 191 1, the macadam road was continued from Charles 
W. Spalding's, by the Derry road to the Marsh corner, so 
called. This was also done, as in 1910, by the selectmen. 



HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS 501 

Towards the accomplishment of the construction of so long 
a piece of state road in 1911, Dr. Alfred K. Hills gener- 
ously contributed the amount of $2,000, and Walter H. 
Marsh, another very generous citizen, gave the amount of 
$600 for the same worthy object. 

In 1912, the state road was extended from the Marsh 
corner, by the Derry road, to the house of Dr. Alfred K. 
Hills. Dr. Hills again contributed very liberally towards 
good roads in Hudson. He paid $1,500 in cash and gave 
all the material of which the road was constructed. It was 
built by the town, as in 1910 and 1911. 

This road was constructed of different material from 
that of the macadam roads heretofore made in this town. 
It was taken from a gravel bank on the farm of Dr. Hills, 
very convenient to the road which was being improved. 
The town bought a heavy road roller in 1912. The gravel 
was screened and applied in different grades — the coarser 
at the bottom and thoroughly rolled, all being done under 
the supervision of an experienced road builder. 

At this time, September, 1912, the road appears to be 
a very good one. 

Hudson has now a little more than three miles of state 
roads. 



CHAPTER XXXVI 

Steam and Electric Railroads 

At the June session of the New Hampshire Legislature 
of 1868, the Portland and Rochester Railroad Company and 
the Nashua and Epping Railroad Company— both of which 
had been previously incorporated, but neither of which had 
done any construction work — were united into one corpor- 
ation under the name of the Nashua and Rochester Rail- 
road, which road now forms a part of the Boston and Maine 
Railroad system. 

This, the only steam railroad passing through Hudson, 
was constructed, and put into operation in the fall of 1874. 
It crosses the Merrimack River at Nashua about sixty rods 
below Taylor's Falls bridge, and pursues a north-easterly 
course through Hudson Center to Beaver brook, a distance 
of some four miles, and enters Windham. 

There is but one railroad station in this town, and that 
is at Hudson Center, where Henry C. Brown is station 
agent. 

By an act of the Legislature passed at the June session, 
1883, the Worcester and Nashua Railroad Company and 
the Nashua and Rochester Railroad Company were author- 
ized to unite upon certain specified conditions, the united 
corporations to be known as the Worcester, Nashua and 
Rochester Railroad Company. This road forms a contin- 
uous line from Worcester, Mass., to Rochester, N. H., a 
distance of ninety-five miles, where it connects with the 
Portland and Rochester Railroad, making a direct line to 
Portland, Maine. 

This is a single track road east of Nashua, and has, in 
addition to its passenger traffic, numerous freight trains 
passing over it daily, which condition has resulted in many 
serious and fatal accidents from collisions occurring be- 
tween Nashua and Rochester. 
502 



STEAM AND ELECTRIC RAILROADS 503 



Street Railways 

The Nashua Street Railway Company was incorpor- 
ated August 14, 1885, with an authorized capital stock of 
550,000, to be operated by horse or other power. 

This road, which was of the narrow gauge type, as 
originally laid out, passed over Kinsley, Main and Canal 
streets to the Concord (now Union) railroad station, and 
its motive power was furnished by horses. Quincy A. 
Woodward was its superintendent. 

Frequent efforts were made by Hudson citizens to in- 
duce the management of this street railway to extend its 
tracks to the west end of Taylor's Falls bridge, but with- 
out success. 

In the spring of 1887, some of the leading men of 
Hudson were given to understand that if they would raise 
one thousand dollars towards defraying the expense, the 
management would favor the extension of the tracks to the 
Taylor's Falls bridge, and, whenever the corporation char- 
ter could be amended so as to permit it, over the bridge 
into Hudson. 

The following subscription paper was drawn up, cir- 
culated and signed: 

Hudson, N. H., May 17, 1887. 

We the undersigned agree to pay each the sum subscribed below, to 
the Nashua Street Railway Company, provided said company will extend 
their track from some point as it is now laid, near the Concord Railroad 
Station in Nashua, to a point near the west end of Taylor's Falls Bridge, 
and to procure an amendment to the charter of said company as soon as 
possible, permitting said track to be extended into Hudson, and as soon 
as may be thereafter to extend the same across said Taylor's Falls Bridge 
into said Hudson. 

Said company to operate said extension so as to accommodate the 
Hudson travel, making at least one trip each hour for ten hours of the 
day, and continue to operate the same indefinitely, all unavoidable deten- 
tions excepted. 

Kimball Webster, $100. J. M. Cummings, $17. 

N. P. Webster, 100. Nathan Cummings, 17. 

William F. Chase, 100- Martin Brothers, 25. 



504 HISTORY OF HUDSON 



James A. Sanders, 


$25. 


Cummings Brothers, 


$25. 


George G. Andrews, 


50. 


Nancy B. Merrill, 


50. 


William Hutchinson, 


20. 


G. O. Sanders, 


50. 


McQuesten & Chase, 


25. 


Joseph Fuller, 


50. 


F. A. Cummings, 


17. 


Aaron Cutler, 


50. 


Mrs. A. M. Sherman, 


25. 


E. A. Martin, 


25. 


W. H. & C. C. Leslie, 


10. 








$781 

The charter was amended August 17, 1887, authoriz- 
ing said company to extend their street railway across 
Taylor's Falls bridge into Hudson, and over and upon the 
roads in said Hudson. 

The company, however, did not accept the money sub- 
scribed by Hudson citizens, nor did it make the proposed 
extension, for six years. 

In 1893, the track was laid from Nashua Junction 
north-easterly through East Hollis street and over the 
bridge into Hudson, where it terminated near the east end 
of Taylor's Falls bridge. 

It was opened for public travel into Hudson, July 22, 
1893. Operated as a horse railway, it gave fairly good sat- 
isfaction to the people of Hudson for about two years. 

In 1894, a controlling interest in this road wj s acquired 
by capitalists connected with the Lowell and Suburban 
Street Railway in Massachusetts. In 1895, permission 
having been granted by the Legislature, the road was reor- 
ganized as a standard gauge electric railway, and under the 
supervision of P. H. Sullivan, at that time the manager of 
said Lowell and Suburban Electric Railway, which had 
been extended from Lowell to Lakeview in Tyngsborough, 
Mass., the road was built through Hudson to the state line 
— a distance of more than five miles — and from there to 
Lakeview. 

The line was constructed in a thorough and substan- 
tial manner. Also Taylor's Falls bridge was repaired and 
improved by substituting for all the old floor girders new 
and much heavier and stronger ones. The structure at 
that time fourteen years old, was otherwise strengthened 



STEAM AND ELECTRIC RAILROADS 505 

in its remaining parts, and thoroughly fitted to stand the 
strain of the new traffic. All this was done at an expense 
to the company of about ten thousand dollars, as has been 
described. The road was opened to the public in August, 
1895, and from that time has been constantly operated be- 
tween Nashua and Lowell with very little interruption, and 
has given the public very satisfactory service. 

Hourly trips have been made in the winter season, and 
half-hourly in the summer. The running time from Nashua 
to Lowell is about an hour and ten minutes, and the fare 
is twenty cents. 

Hudson, Pelham and Salem Electric Railway 
Company 

This company was incorporated by an act of the Legis- 
lature, approved March 7, 1889, with power to construct, 
maintain and operate a railway from a point at or near the 
Merrimack river bridge in the town of Hudson, over and 
upon such highways and lands as may be necessary in the 
towns of Hudson and Pelham in the county of Hillsbor- 
ough, and Windham and Salem in the county of Rocking- 
ham, to some convenient point on the state line in or near 
the highway leading from Wilson's Corner, a village or 
crossing in the town of Salem, to Ayer's Village at the 
Massachusetts line. 

The capital stock was not to exceed $200,000, and two 
years was given the company in which to construct the 
road. However, it was not built within the limit of the 
time allowed. 

By a legislative act, approved February 5, 1901, the 
capital stock was increased to $300,000, and the time of 
construction extended two years from March 7, 1901. 

It was completed so far as to be opened for public 
travel, September 8, 1902. 

The road passes from its junction with the Nashua 
electric railway near the east end of the bridge, easterly 



506 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

through Hudson Center, thence south-easterly to Pelham 
line, a distance in Hudson of four and a half miles. 

Its course continues through Pelham Center, Canobie 
Lake Park in Salem, Salem Depot, Salem Village and 
Ayer's Village to Haverhill, Mass. Branches are also con- 
structed from Pelham Center southerly through Pelham 
and Dracut to Lowell, and from Point A., near Canobie 
Lake Park, south-easterly through Methuen to Lawrence, 
Mass. 

During the first year of this road's operation, the de- 
sire to make the quickest possible time between the differ- 
ent points on its lines resulted in driving its cars at a very 
high rate of speed, with little or no diminution of velocity 
when descending the steepest grades or rounding the 
sharpest curves. So reckless and dangerous did this rapid 
running appear to the patrons of the road that disaster was 
predicted by some of them, and not a few were actually 
afraid to ride over the lines. 

On Sunday afternoon, September 6, 1903, a car for 
Nashua, heavily laden, principally with excursionists, fam- 
ilies and others returning from Canobie Lake Park, while 
passing, at a terrific rate of speed, around the long curve 
half a mile west of Pelham Center, met a car approaching 
in the opposite direction. The inside of the curve at that 
time was covered with trees, and the vision so obstructed 
thereby that neither of the motormen could see the other 
car until the distance separating them was very short. 

The cars came together with a terrible impact. Some 
of the passengers leaped to the ground, but many who did 
not, and especially those sitting in the front ends, were 
either killed or badly wounded. The number of those 
killed and those who ultimately died of their injuries was 
quite large; many others were maimed more or less seri- 
ously, and both cars were badly wrecked. 

The killed and wounded were largely citizens of 
Nashua, though Hudson had to mourn the loss of one of 
her most prominent business men, George G. Andrews, 



STEAM AND ELECTRIC RAILROADS 507 

postmaster, merchant, former town clerk, selectman and 
representative. His wife, Mrs. Anabel C. Andrews, occu- 
pying a seat with him, was so seriously injured that her 
life was despaired of for a long time; she ultimately re- 
gained such a measure of health as to be comfortable, but 
can never be entirely well again. 

Without delay the company began to negotiate settle- 
ments of the claims for deaths and injuries resulting from 
the accident, and in a short time nearly all were satisfac- 
torily adjusted without resort to the courts. 

This accident proved very expensive to the company. 

As an apparent result the running time was soon 
changed, so as to very materially reduce the speed of the 
cars over all the lines of the road, and to the present time, 
1912, the former high rate has never been restored. Later 
the company became insolvent and the road passed into 
the hands of a receiver, but the company has since been 
reorganized. The line has always been operated with reg- 
ularity. 

Hourly trips in winter and half-hourly in summer are 
made between Nashua, Haverhill, Lawrence and Lowell. 

Rapid Transit 

The Goffe's Falls, Litchfield and Hudson Street Rail- 
way Company was incorporated by an act of the legisla- 
ture, March 7, 1903. By a legislative act of 1905, the time 
allowed for the construction of the road was extended two 
years to March 7, 1907. 

An act was passed February 27, 1907, changing the 
name from Goffe's Falls, Litchfield and Hudson Street 
Railway Company to the Manchester and Nashua Street 
Railway. 

George W. Clyde of Hudson, Isaac N. Senter of Litch- 
field, and the late Wallace D. Lovell of Boston, were fore- 
most in obtaining the charter of this road, and later, with a 
few associates, they perfected its organization. 



508 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Strenuous efforts were made by them to interest capi- 
talists in financing the road so as to insure its building, but 
they met with no substantial success until 1906. 

Early in that year capitalists of Manchester became 
interested and obtained its franchises, soon after which the 
construction of the road commenced. During 1906 the 
road was built from Goffe's Falls in Manchester — where it 
connects with the Manchester Street Railway — southerly 
through Litchfield and Hudson, to a point near Taylor's 
Falls bridge, where it forms a physical connection with the 
Hudson, Pelham and Salem Street Railway, and also the 
Lowell line of the Nashua Street Railway, as permitted by 
its charter. The length of the road is about twelve and 
one-half miles. 

It was thoroughly constructed, with heavy rails, and 
it is nearly all outside of the highways and over private 
lands. The grades are very light, and it has very few 
curves. There are many long, straight stretches which 
permit of "rapid transit," which name the cars bear. 

The line was opened to the public January 1, 1907. 
Its cars — as also those of the Hudson, Pelham and Salem 
electric line — are run on the Nashua Street Railway tracks 
from the junction at the east end of the bridge to Main 
street in Nashua. 

The running time from Nashua to Manchester is one 
hour. The distance is about eighteen miles, and the fare 
is twenty-five cents. From the bridge at Hudson to Man- 
chester the fare is twenty cents, and the running time 
forty-five minutes. Hourly trips are made, and in summer 
half-hourly in afternoons. 



CHAPTER XXXVII 

Hudson Village 

Let us attempt to picture to ourselves that part of the 
town of Hudson with its principal point of radiation near 
Taylor's Falls bridge — where now is situated our quiet, at- 
tractive little residential village with its one hundred and 
seventy-five happy homes — as it existed in the spring of 
1834. 

There was no village here at that date. The only vil- 
lage in Hudson was at Hudson Center— two miles distant 
— and that was very small. It contained three small stores, 
one tavern, one meeting-house, one practicing physician 
and eight or nine residences. 

Military trainings in May, required by law once each 
year, were held on the town common. Hay scales were 
located on the south side of the common. 

Only seven years prior to this date, in 1827, the bridge 
had been completed by a few of the most enterprising men 
then residents of Hudson and Nashua Village, and opened 
as a toll bridge, spanning the Merrimack between these 
two points. 

It was a covered bridge with a road way sixteen feet 
broad and no sidewalk. A row of single sash windows 
upon each of the sides was inserted when the bridge was 
built, each window containing twelve lights of small glass. 
The glass, as it became broken by mischievous boys or 
from accidents, was seldom if ever replaced. The bridge 
was lighted at night by lanterns specially made for the pur- 
pose, and after they became broken — which was not very 
long — by common glass lanterns which were invented a 
short time previous. 

The lanterns were filled with whale oil and hung in 
their places before dark, and would burn until after mid- 
509 



610 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

night, and sometimes until daylight. A walk through the 
bridge in the night time, especially after the lights were 
extinguished was a dark and gloomy experience. The 
bridge was five hundred and nine feet in length, and the 
toll gate was located about fifty feet west of the westerly 
or Nashua end. 

The fixed rate of toll assessed for crossing the 
bridge was for foot people one cent. For a single horse 
and carriage it was never less than five cents each way, 
and for the earlier years of the bridge, the toll was consid- 
erably more. For oxen and all kinds of double teams the 
toll was graded according to the number of animals, size of 
load and other conditions. 

The old Joshua Hamblet ferry house then stood on the 
river bank about thirty feet south-east from the present 
location of the Martin barn connected with the store build- 
ings. This was a small one-story house, without paint, 
and had stood for many years. The Hamblet dwelling 
house, where Mr. Josiah Hamblet, the former ferry man, 
and his family resided, was situated at the present junction 
of Derry road and Campbell avenue. 

Captain Joseph Kelley formerly kept a tavern at this 
place. A long horse shed stood north of the ferry road 
where the Martin wheelwright and blacksmith building is 
now located. This shed was formerly for the accommoda- 
tion of the tavern and the ferry. No other buildings were 
located near the bridge. 

The old Eleazer Cummings farm house, erected more 
than one hundred years prior to that date, stood in the 
field, three hundred yards north from the end of the bridge, 
and overlooking the Merrimack. 

About the same distance in a south-easterly direction 
was the old colonial farm house of Zachariah Hardy, later 
owned by John Gillis, which remained there until within a 
few years, when it was removed and a modern one supplied 
its place. This house is now owned by the daughters of 
Mr. Gillis. 



HUDSON VILLAGE 511 

Only two other sets of farm buildings, or buildings of 
any kind, were situated within one-half mile of the bridge 
in Hudson. 

The new road from the bridge to Zachariah Hardy's 
house was opened in 1827, seven years previous. 

The county road was straightened from Hardy's south- 
erly about three miles, and also a little later was straight- 
ened and improved from Hardy's Corner to Hudson Cen- 
ter. 

The old ferry road, now Ferry street, is one among the 
the most ancient highways in Hudson, but was very nar- 
row and quite crooked. 

The Derry road, which included a piece of the old 
county road, formed a junction with the ferry road, near 
the south-east corner of the present Library Park. Library 
street is also a part of the old county road. 

Webster street was not laid out until many years later, 
1859. 

At the date of which we are writing no railroad had 
entered Nashua. 

The Middlesex canal from Pawtucket Falls to Charles- 
town and Boston was completed in 1804. The canal at 
Amoskeag Falls at Manchester, with sufficient locks, known 
as "Blodget's Canal," was commenced by Hon. Samuel 
Blodget in May, 1793, and completed by him about four- 
teen years later. 

The Merrimack River between the head of Middlesex 
canal near Lowell, and Concord, N. H., had been consider- 
ably improved by the proprietors of the canal, by removing 
obstructions from the channel and by the construction of 
locks in several places along the river. 

Many canal boats were plying between Concord and 
intermediate points by the river and canal, to and from 
Boston. The dimensions of those boats were approxi- 
mately as follows: length near eighty feet, width nine feet, 
depth in center three and one-half feet or more. Their 
sides were made in the woods from large, old growth, native 
white pine trees, worked into suitable shape and size with 



512 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

a whip saw and broad axe. A single plank, varying in 
thickness at different points, reached the entire length of 
the boat. Thib gave it great strength. 

The boats were propelled down river by long oars, 
and when the wind was favorable, by a large square sail, 
with which every boat was provided. They were forced 
up stream against the current, along near the shore, by 
means of strong ash poles made for that purpose, the lower 
ends being strongly shod with steel points. It was con- 
sidered very hard labor to pole a loaded boat up stream, 
especially when the river was swollen by rains above its 
ordinary stage. 

They were taken through the canal by means of horses 
traveling on the tow path and drawing the boats. Three 
men furnished an ordinary crew for a boat. These boats 
carried wood, shingles, boards, brick, potatoes and other 
farm produce, together with almost all kinds of merchan- 
dise. On their return trips they would often load with 
sugar, molasses and other kinds of groceries, dry goods 
and all additional articles needed in the country. Many 
of these boats were owned in the towns between Lowell 
and Concord. 

The canal from the Merrimack to the Nashua river 
was opened in 1826, with the necessary dam and locks. 
The locks were of solid stone masonry twenty-four feet 
high in all. Each lift was ten feet wide and eighty-two 
feet long. Sometimes considerable quantities of wood and 
lumber were shipped from Hudson to the Boston and 
Charlestown markets, including the brick yards at Charles- 
town. 

The migratory fish were still abundant in the Merri- 
mack and its tributaries at the time of which we are writ- 
ing- 
in the summer of 1835, the ice break, which is still 
standing in the river a short distance above the bridge, was 
erected by the proprietors to protect the pier on the Hud- 
son side, which had previously been considerably weakened 
by a severe ice freshet. 



HUDSON VILLAGE 513 

The first notable change in the condition after 1834, 
leading towards the beginning of the development of the 
village which was to follow later, was the store building 
with its two tenements and stable. The buildings occu- 
pied substantially the same location as the present site 
of the Martin store near Taylor's Falls bridge. The 
main portion or front had formerly stood a little south of 
the present Hudson Center school house. It had been the 
dwelling house of one of the Tenney family. It was re- 
moved to the place described as early as 1837. 

December 14, 1837, Joseph Greeley conveyed to Ste- 
phen D. Greeley one undivided third part of land and 
buildings in Hudson. Beginning on the highway and on 
land of Alfred Cummings, a little south-east of Josiah 
Hamblet's ferry house; thence westerly and northerly by 
said Cummings land to Merrimack River; thence down 
said river to land owned by Taylor's Falls Bridge Company; 
thence easterly upon said bridge company's land and said 
Hamblet's land to the bound first mentioned, excluding 
any land belonging to Hamblet and the highway. 

The exact date at which the Greeley building was first 
opened as a general country store is not known at the pres- 
ent time, but it is certain that Mr. Sanborn Sleeper was 
the proprietor of a store there as early as 1840, and possi- 
bly two or three years previous. 

Cyrus Warren, a young man from YYeathersfield, Ver- 
mont, married, June 6, 1826, in Nottingham West, Susanna 
B. Winn, born in Nottingham West, daughter of Reuben 
and Mary Winn. They settled, after their marriage, in 
Nashua Village, where their two children, George Henry 
and Harriet, were born. 

About 1837, Mr. Warren purchased land from his 
brother-in-law, Abiather Winn, and erected a plane shop 
with suitable machinery on the south side of Otternick 
brook, between the Lowell road and the Hadley mill. Mr. 
Warren also built a cottage house on the south side of the 
Hudson Center road, north of the plane shop. It was re- 



514 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

moved by the railroad and is now owned by Mrs. Ellen F. 
Bundy. 

The plane business conducted by Mr. Warren was not 
extensive, but he managed it profitably and acquired an 
enviable reputation for making the best planes manufac- 
tured in New England. For a time his brother William 
was connected with him in the business, but later William 
built a plane shop of his own on the north side of the brook. 
Cyrus Warren continued to manage the business of plane 
making here until 1857, soon after which he removed to 
Nashua. 

John Gillis settled here on the Zachariah Hardy farm 
in 1838. The Willoughby brothers, Ethan and Mark, 
came here from Hollis and settled as early as 1838. They 
acquired the Hadley mills, formerly built by Moses Had- 
ley, and after his decease, September 9, 1829, had been 
owned by the Hadley family. 

They each built a home soon after settling here, but 
the exact date is not known. The house of Ethan was 
situated near the mill on the west bank of the mill pond, 
and is the same now owned by Charles F. Melendy. Mark 
constructed his home north of the Hudson Center road — 
a little west of the William Hadley, or Newcomb house — 
which is now owned by T. LaOuerre. 

October 8, 1838-, the Nashua and Lowell railroad was 
opened to public travel from Lowell to the large Jackson 
elm at Amory street in Nashua. On December 23, of the 
same year the bridge over the Nashua river had been com- 
pleted and the cars were run to Main street station. 

In 1840, a line of stages was operated from Nashua 
Village, over Taylor's Falls bridge, on the east side of the 
Merrimack, through Manchester — at that time a growing 
manufacturing village containing thirty-five hundred in- 
habitants — to Concord. This was also the same year in 
which occurred the famous campaign and election of Wil- 
liam Henry Harrison as president of the United States. 
"Tippecanoe and Tyler, too." was the rallying cry. 



Jk 






'Mi 

W 1 


j i 1 i i ., i 






; 




"" .... 





From Photo by C. E. Paine 

METHODIST CHURCH, 



1880 



HUDSON VILLAGE 515 

During the campaign some of the whigs of Nashua 
had a genuine log cabin constructed and placed on wheels, 
which was fully equipped with all the paraphernalia, includ- 
ing coon skins, hard cider, and other necessary fixtures. 
During the most heated part of the campaign this cabin 
was driven from Nashua, through Hudson, Litchfield, Man- 
chester, Hooksett and Pembroke, to Concord, making al- 
most as good time as the stage coach, which it followed 
closely. As it passed along the road many of the patriotic 
women residents cheered the company by throwing to the 
breeze their red flannel petticoats. 

The population of Hudson in 1840 was 1,144. 

The following summary is copied from the returns of 
the marshal who took the United States census, showing 
the products and resources of the town for that year: 

Horses, 135; neat cattle, 1,241; sheep, 1,403; swine, 
585. 

There were raised, 173 bushels of wheat, 377 bushels 
of barley, 6,453 bushels of oats, 3,419 bushels of rye, 1,219 
bushels of buckwheat, 8,341 bushels of corn, 18,090 bushels 
of potatoes, 2,398 pounds of wool, 2,698 tons of hay and 
ten pounds of maple sugar. 

The value of the products of the dairy for the year 
was $6,987. 

There were three stores — two at or near the Center 
and one at the Bridge — with a capital of $2,600. There 
were also two grist mills and three saw mills. 

The number of polls in Hudson was 236, and the valu- 
ation was $380,614. The town was obliged to pay four 
dollars and thirty-one cents out of every thousand dollars 
of the state tax. 

The first Methodist meeting-house in this town, which 
stood near the Hadley-Willoughby mill, was built in 1840. 
The Congregational meeting-house, which is still standing, 
was built two years later, in 1842. 

The building long known as the "Old Ark," which is 
still standing between the railroad and Central street, was 



516 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

removed from near where Charles W. Spalding's house now 
is, by Amos Davis, Jr., about 1842. It was a long, narrow, 
one-story building. The roof was removed and a second 
story added. This second story was much broader than 
the original building, and projected six or eight feet on 
each side, which formed piazzas the whole length of the 
building, about forty feet. Ultimately, a considerable part 
of these piazzas was inclosed within the building. A pri- 
vate school, or high school, was maintained in this building 
for several years. 

Mr. Sleeper was succeeded in the Greeley store in 
1842 by Hermon Dane. He removed here from Hudson 
Center, and after a residence of two years at the Bridge, 
removed to Nashua. Mr. Dane and his wife, Clarissa (Bar- 
rett) Dane, were the parents of the late Hermon F. Dane, 
a popular auctioneer for many years, who was born at Hud- 
son Center, May 12, 1840, and who died in Nashua on the 
71st anniversary of his birth, May 12, 1911. 

In 1840, Willard Spalding built the house on the east 
side of Derry road, now owned by Mrs. Mary M. Spalding. 
This house replaced a smaller, ancient one on the same 
spot, formerly owned by Mr. Joshua Pierce. Paul Colburn 
built his home a little west of the Congregational meeting- 
house not very long after that church was erected. The 
place was owned for many years by John E. Brown, and at 
the present time by Walter A. Peavey. 

Mr. James Carnes, formerly of Newbury, Vermont, 
removed to this place from Henniker, N. H., in 1841 or 
1842. In 1844 he bought of the proprietors the old South 
meeting-house erected in 1798. From the timber and ma- 
terial procured from that building he soon after built him- 
self a home, at the corner near the present watering trough 
at Postoffice square. Mr. Carnes was a blacksmith and a 
wheelwright and proved to be a useful man in the youthful 
village. Soon after his settlement he changed the old 
Kelley horse shed, before mentioned, into a blacksmith 
shop, which was used for that purpose by himself, Jonathan 



HUDSON VILLAGE 517 

C. Dudley and others, for about fifteen years. Mr. Carnes 
also, from the timber resulting from the demolition of the 
old meeting-house, a little later built a store building with 
a basement. This building occupied a part of the same 
site now covered by Cummings Brothers' wheelwright 
shop. 

Mr. Carnes for several years, later occupied the build- 
ing as a grocery store. About 1851, not having made a 
full success of the grocery business, he closed it out and im- 
mediately established the manufacture of "Paddy" wheel- 
barrows, as they were usually called, being such as were 
used by laborers when grading railroads. 

The store was changed into a manufactory and the 
wheelbarrow business was conducted there by Mr. Carnes 
with good success for some years. He employed several 
men. Later he changed it into a general wheelwright busi- 
ness. The building with all machinery, tools and entire 
contents was totally destroyed by fire in 1859. Mr. Carnes 
later rebuilt this building and re-established the wheel- 
wright business. 

John N. Marshall, who had kept a small store at Hud- 
son Center for several years, occupied the Greeley store at 
the Bridge in 1845, and remained for about two years. He 
also returned later and again occupied the same place in 
1850 and 1851. 

Moses Worcester, with his son, Moses A. Worcester, 
occupied the Greeley store in 1847, and remained there 
three years. Dana Sargent succeeded Worcester & Son 
for a time. Thomas H. Ewins came here from Salem, N. 
H., in 1852, and managed a store there, until November 
1855. Hills and Marshall— George W. Hills and David 
C. Marshall — followed Mr. Ewins in business in the store, 
but continued as a firm only one year, when Mr. Marshall, 
being in feeble health, withdrew, and the business was 
conducted by George W. Hills for more than twelve years, 
until 1869. 

The streets when mentioned hereinafter will be desig- 
nated by their modern names. 



518 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Rev. William Page, at that time the Congregational 
pastor, built a fine residence on the south side of Central 
street, in 1844. It is the same now owned and occupied by 
Rufus E. Winn. 

William Blodgett also erected his cottage house on the 
same side of Central street, and near that of Mr. Page, the 
same year. It is now owned by Caldwell Buttrick. 

John Cross built a fine set of farm buildings, about 
1849, on the east side of the Derry road, it being the same 
owned for many years by the late Lucien M. Tolles, and 
now by James S. Bannister. 

Jonathan C. Dudley, when a young man, came from 
Weare, N. H., to Hudson, as a blacksmith with Mr. Carnes, 
in whose employ he remained for a time. Later he man- 
aged that business on his own account, then, for a time, in 
company with William F. Lewis, and later with Thomas 
S. Clough. 

In 1849, Mr. Dudley bought one acre of land near the 
present Methodist meeting-house, to which he removed a 
wheelwright shop formerly owned by David W. Burns, and 
which stood a short distance south-westerly from the Con- 
gregational meeting-house. 

Mr. Dudley remodeled this building into a cottage 
house, which was occupied for about two years by Charles 
W. Clement, who was also a blacksmith. Mr. Dudley later 
occupied it as a home. It is now owned and occupied by 
Mrs. Eva M. Emerson, the only daughter, or child, of Mr. 
Dudley. Mr. Dudley died March 29, 1865, aged 43 years. 

In 1850, John Goss of Londonderry, erected a cottage 
house for his son, Henry S. Goss, on the south side of Cen- 
tral street, which house is now owned by Rufus E. Winn. 
For several years Henry S. Goss operated machinery at 
one of the mills for carding wool. 

The Hudson postoffice was removed from Hudson 
Center to the Greeley store building, September 15, 1853, 
and Thomas H. Ewins appointed postmaster. 

George W. Hills built his residence on the north side 



HUDSON VILLAGE 519 

of Central street in 1855. It is now owned by the heirs of 
William Hutchinson. 

In 1857, James B. Merrill constructed his buildings, a 
little west from the house of Mr. Hills, which are now 
owned by his daughter, Annie G. Merrill. 

In 1856, Josiah K. Wheeler built a fine residence on 
the west side of the Litchfield road, now Webster street. 

William Warren built a house on the north side of 
Central street, about 1854. This house is now owned by 
Mrs. James C. Thorning. Mr. Warren died May 9, 1861, 
aged 43 years. 

Dana Sargent built a fine residence on the north side 
of Central street as early as 1860. The house was a short 
distance east of the William Hadley house, and was long 
known as the Woodbury place. 

George W. Marshall, a little later, erected a house 
and barn north of Central street, a little west of the Sunny- 
side cemetery. 

In 1857, Holt and Jones of Nashua, were engaged in 
the .manufacture of cotton goods at the mill formerly of 
Isaac Winn. They remained in business there two or 
three years. 

In 1858, French and Gould were quite largely en- 
gaged in various manufactures at the Willoughby mills, 
which was continued by them and other parties for sev- 
eral years. At one time, extension tables were manufac- 
tured here in large numbers. Albert Shedd & Co., were 
engaged in business there in 1867. 

About 1857, Nathan Marshall erected a fine set of 
farm buildings on the west side of the Lowell road. This 
was later known as the Amos Farnum place, and is now 
owned by Wilber L. Abare. About the same time Fred- 
erick Steele built the buildings on the west side of the 
Lowell road, which are now owned by Frank M. Winn. 

The highway now known as Webster street, from Tay- 
lor's Falls bridge northerly up the river to the Josiah K. 
Wheeler house, was laid out in 1859, and constructed two 



520 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

years later. Kimball Webster removed and rebuilt his 
house on Webster street in 1860, after the highway had 
been laid out, but one year in advance of its construction. 

This house had formerly stood on the east side of the 
Derry road, where it was built in 1848 by Alfred Cum- 
mings. James Ryan built his house on what was formerly 
a part of the Cross farm in 1867. It was on the west side 
of the Derry road. This is the same house now owned by 
Charles A. McAfee, once owned by George E. Small. 

Mr. James Carnes built a store building with a small 
hall on the second floor on the west side of Central street 
at Postoffice square. This structure was commenced in the 
early sixties, but was not completed for several years. Mr 
Carnes traded here for a few years, and it was occupied at 
times by Francis A. Marden, Waldo P. Walton, Willard 
H. Webster, and others. 

James Carnes died November 29, 1883, aged 69 years 
and 6 months. This building was enlarged and improved 
by Nathan P. Webster in 1890, and is now owned by Ba- 
ker Brothers, John J. and William W. They have occupied 
it as a grocery store for twenty-two years, since October 
15, 1890. 

Charles W. Spalding built his fine residence on the 
original John Taylor garrison farm, on the west side of 
Derry road, in 1870. 

Nathan Cummings removed here from the north-east 
part of Hudson about 1872, and erected his house on the 
north side of Highland street, it being the first dwelling 
there. It is now the abode of Charles B. Gilbert. In April, 
1895, the house was practically destroyed by fire. Mr. 
Cummings died September 23, 1894, aged 76 years. The 
house was rebuilt by James M. Cummings, son of Nathan. 

Alonzo G. Hutchins, at that time doing business here 
as a blacksmith, built a cottage house on the west side of 
Library street in 1872. It is now owned by Walter J. 
Harwood. 

In the same year, Mrs. Martha Pollard put up her cozy 
house on the north side of Central street. This is now 




NATHAN P. WEBSTER 



HUDSON VILLAGE 521 

owned by her niece, Emma M. Taylor. Martha Pollard 
died September 9, 1911, aged 93 years and 9 months. 

Albert O. Titcomb constructed a small house on the 
south side of Ferry street in 1871 or 1872. This is the 
same house owned by the estate of the late Nathan Cum- 
mings, and occupied by his son, James M. Cummings. 

A little later, another small house was built by Oscar 
Austin, a short distance east of the last mentioned one. 
Later, this was enlarged and improved by Charles H. Bas- 
sett, and was destroyed by fire in the spring of 1912. It 
was replaced by a cement structure the same year. 

In 1873, George M. Clark built a small house on the 
east side of Derry road beyond number six school house. 
This has since been materially enlarged, and is now owned 
by James A. Phillips, the rural mail carrier of Hudson 
route number two. 

William H. Leslie came to Hudson from East Pem- 
broke, N. H., in 1872, and erected a dwelling on the east 
side of Derry road. James G. Walker built his house on 
the east side of Webster street in 1873. A story was ad- 
ded to it in 1898. 

George O. Sanders began building his fine residence 
on the west side of Derry road in 1873, and finished it two 
years later. It is now owned by Harry B. Kenrick. 

Charles White erected his dwelling on the high land 
overlooking the Derry road and the Merrimack valley, in 
1874. It is still occupied by Mr. White, an old veteran. 

Hiram Cummings moved and rebuilt his large two-tene- 
ment house on the north side of Central street in 1874. 
This formerly stood on the Cummings farm at the north- 
east part of Hudson. Hiram Cummings died January 7, 
1910, aged 88 years. 

In 1874, the Nashua and Rochester railroad, now a 
part of the Worcester, Nashua and Portland division of the 
Boston & Maine system, was opened for traffic through 
Hudson, with but one station and that at the Center. 

William P. Annis built his home on the east side of 



522 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Litchfield road in 1875. This is the same place now owned 
by Smith L. Jacobs. 

William F. Chase built a fine residence on the north 
side of Central street in 1876. It is now owned by the 
heirs of William F. Winn. Mr. Chase died March 15, 1899, 
aged 67 years. 

The grange building on the south side of Central street 
was erected by an association made up from members of 
Hudson Grange in 1876. It is now owned by the Nashua 
Protestant Orphanage Association. 

William T. Merrill built his home on the north side of 
Central street in 1876. Mr. Merrill died May 10, 1885, 
aged 59 years. Aaron Cutler built a house on the east 
side of Library street in 1875. A little later he put up 
another small one, a little farther south. 

The Greeley store buildings before mentioned — at the 
time owned by Elisha Z. Martin — were totally destroyed by 
an incendiary fire, together with their contents, the post- 
office included, on the night of October 21, 1876. Nathan 
P. Webster was then proprietor and was also postmaster. 
Mr. Webster kept a general assortment of groceries, in- 
cluding flour, grain and other goods generally sold in a 
retail country store. Mr. Martin, in 1877, rebuilt, and 
these are the same buildings now occupied as a store by 
Daniels and Gilbert. 

Frank A. Cummings erected his house at the corner 
of Library and Highland streets in 1877. 

The First Methodist Episcopal, or "Brick Church," 
near the Bridge, was erected in 1880. 

The iron bridge over the Merrimack, erected to supply 
the place of the wooden bridge built in 1827, was con- 
structed in 1881. 

In 1882, Miss Mary A. Winn built a fine house on the 
north side of Central street, near the site where the Meth- 
odist meeting-house was destroyed by fire, August 3, 1879. 
Mary A. Winn died June 3, 1884, aged 43 years. Since 
the decease of Miss Winn, the house has been owned by 
her sister, Josephine A. Winn. 



HUDSON VILLAGE 523 

In 1882, Willis P. Cummings, for Cummings Brothers, 
Willis P. and Charles E. Cummings, bought the wheel- 
wright shop, tools and lot from James Carnes. Since that 
purchase the Cummings Brothers have made several addi- 
tions to the real estate, and enlargements to the buildings 
and have supplied them with modern machinery. They 
employ constantly several men. 

Charles M. Woodward built a house at the corner of 
Highland and Pleasant streets as early as 1882. It is now 
owned by a non-resident. 

James A. Sanders commenced the building of his row 
of cottages on the south side of Ferry street in 1885, and 
added to them from year to year. In 1889 he had built 
three. In 1890 he had five completed. In 1892 he had 
eight. 

Edgar Smith remodeled the George B. Griffin house, 
formerly the "Red House," on the east side of Derry 
road, about 1886. It is now owned by Clarence E. Walch. 
The next house south now owned by Aldon E. Cummings, 
was rebuilt by his father, John Cummings, about 1850. 

Mrs. Wilhelmina L. Carnes, widow of James Carnes, 
removed a small building which stood near the Carnes 
homestead, to the west side of Campbell avenue. This 
was about 1884. She had the building reconstructed into 
a house, which she occupied for a time, but later sold 
it and removed to Derry. In 1911, this house was pur- 
chased by Professor Charles L. Norton, and by him was 
thoroughly remodeled and improved, and supplied with 
all needed modern improvements. It is now occupied by 
Joseph A. Torrey. 

Willis P. Cummings erected his fine house on the 
south side of Central street in 1887. 

George G. Andrews erected a fine residence on the 
north side of Ferry street, at the corner of Baker street, in 
1887. Mr. Andrews succeeded Nathan P. Webster in the 
Greeley-Martin store, and also as postmaster, in 1892. He 
remained in business there until his sudden and tragic 
death, September 6, 1903. 



524 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

As early as 1888, Drusette S. Annis, wife of William 
P. Annis, commenced the building of a home on the north 
side of Ferry street. This place is now owned by Sumner 
N. Perkins. 

James M. Butler, in 1888, built a good house on the 
south side of Highland street. It is now owned by his 
son, Albert S. Butler. 

John H. Baker was the first to build on Baker street. 
He located his home on the west side of the street, in 1888. 

James E. Merrill erected his home on the south side 
of Central street, in 1888. 

Frederick Steele built a line house on the south side 
of Ferry street as early as 1888. It is now owned by Clara 
M. Albee. 

Rev. Silas G. Kellogg, the Methodist pastor here at 
that time, constructed a residence on the west side of the 
Derry road in 1889. Mr. Kellogg died December 21, 1891, 
aged 68 years, 8 months and 27 days. The place is now 
occupied by Charles H. Harvey. 

Ezra A. Martin built a very fine residence on the west 
side of Baker street in 1889. These buildings were a total 
loss by fire in September, 1890. William W. Baker built a 
residence on the site of the destroyed buildings during the 
winter of 1899-1900. 

George A. Merrill began the building of his fine home 
on the east side of Maple avenue, in 1889. 

Mrs. Hannah J. Clyde erected a fine two-tenement 
house, suitable for a home for herself and daughter, in 1890. 
This is on the south side of Central street. 

Abi A. Sanders built his home on the west side of Ba- 
ker street in 1890. It is now owned by Edwin H. San- 
born. Nelson H. Pease also built his dwelling on the south 
side of Highland street in 1890. 

Alvirne, the beautiful summer home of Dr. Alfred K. 
Hills and his wife, Ida Virginia (Creutzborg) Hills, was 
built in 1890. It is situated on the south-east side of the 
Derry road, on the former homestead of the late father of 



HUDSON VILLAGE 525 

Dr. Hills, Alden Hills, which contained 181 acres. This 
was a part of the Nathaniel Hills' Tyng land elsewhere 
mentioned in this history. 

In 1891, George O. Sanders built a block of five tene- 
ments at the corner of Library and Highland streets. 
This building is now owned by John D. Sullivan of Nashua. 

James Ryan erected a home on the east side of Pleas- 
ant street in 1891. This place is now owned by Elmer D. 
Clement and occupied by Charles A. Shepard. 

In 1891, George E. Small built his residence on the 
east side of Webster street. Mr. Small died October 29, 
1900, aged 63 years and nine months. This place is now 
owned by Sanford S. Springer. 

John M. Thompson erected a fine house on the north 
side of Highland street in 1891. Mr. Thompson died Jan- 
uary 27, 1893, aged 61 years and 11 months. The place is 
now owned by Herbert L. Boynton. 

James E. Parker, in 1892, built his fine home on the 
west side of Derry road. 

In 1892, Gerry Walker built a house on the west side 
of Baker street. It is now owned by Miss Mary E. Gilson 
and Mrs. Lucy C. Nichols, sisters. 

In 1893, Walter E. Harris built a good home at the 
south-west corner of Campbell avenue. The place is now 
owned by Professor Charles L. Norton, who has very much 
improved and enlarged it. It is one of the most modern, 
most convenient, and finest residences in Hudson. 

Arthur L. Joy also erected his home on the west side 
of Maple avenue, in 1894. A few years later he built a 
small store nearby. 

During the same year, 1894, George P. Woodward 
erected a very fine and expensive house on the west side 
of Litchfield road, or Webster street. A few years later 
Mr. Woodward removed to Lowell. The place is now 
owned and occupied by Abraham Ferryall. 



526 history of hudson 

Hudson Water Works 

In 1891, George O. Sanders was the owner of the 
finest and best furnished residence in Hudson. He was a 
manufacturer and the owner of a large wood-working plant, 
situated on the west side of the Merrimack near the mouth 
of the Nashua river. He obtained his supply of water for 
domestic purposes at his home from a deep, open well, 
raised by means of a wind-mill. 

In the spring of the same year he bought land ot Na- 
than Cummings on Highland street, upon which he erected 
a stand pipe and began to install water works in a small 
way, chiefly to supply his own buildings and premises. 
But at the earnest request of a few of his neighbors that 
appreciated the great convenience of having a plentiful 
supply of good running water for domestic use, he was 
induced to enlarge his plant sufficiently to furnish them. 

After an unsuccessful attempt to obtain a sufficient 
quantity of water from a large well excavated a little north 
of the stand pipe, he purchased several acres of swamp 
land, situated six or seven hundred feet north-easterly from 
his stand pipe, which included a small, muddy pond of 
about two acres in area, and which had been known by the 
name of Spruce Swamp, or Little Tarnic pond. 

He laid a small pipe from the stand pipe to the pond, 
and by means of an engine and pump commenced to force 
water from the pond into the stand pipe. He laid pipes 
from the stand pipe through Highland street and Derry 
road to his own residence, and by Derry road and Ferry 
street as far west as near Taylor's Falls bridge, and com- 
menced to distribute water to supply his own necessities 
and also those of a few customers — probably not exceeding 
twenty in all. 

He also extended a small pipe through the river to his 
manufacturing plant in Nashua. This first distribution was 
in the fall of 1891. This pond water was much colored and 
contained a large quantity of sediment and swamp mud. 



HUDSON VILLAGE 527 

Yet the pond from its natural situation must necessarily 
be protected from any considerable quantity of surface 
drainage. 

The Hudson Water Works Company was incorporated 
March 9, 1893. A little later it was organized with George 
O. Sanders, president, and Linda P. Sanders, treasurer. 

The water from the swamp pond proved to be of poor 
quality, and unsatisfactory for domestic uses, both to Mr. 
Sanders and all his water-takers, and its use was discontin- 
ued in less than two years after its distribution was com- 
menced. 

The old Hadley-Willoughby, or Wood Mill, which was 
situated on the bank of Otternick brook, a little south-east 
and near where Charles F. Melendy's box manufactory 
now stands — was totally destroyed by fire about this time, 
and George O. Sanders purchased its site, containing sev- 
eral acres of land, together with all its water rights and 
other privileges thereunto belonging. 

In the early part of 1893, Mr. Sanders erected a box 
shop on the site now occupied by that of Mr. Melendy. 
This manufactory was later destroyed by fire and recon- 
structed, and has since been greatly enlarged and improved. 

In April, 1893, Mr. Sanders conveyed a part of the 
land he had recently bought, to the Hudson Water Works 
Company, for location of a large well, from which to draw 
a supply of water, for a pumping station, and for other 
needed uses. 

This well, situated on the north side of the brook and 
west of the highway — which has since, to a large extent, 
supplied the stand pipe with water — was excavated, pipes 
were laid through Central street and connected with the 
former system of pipes near Hudson bridge, a pump was 
installed at the well, and the water began to be forced 
from the new well into the stand pipe by a circuitous route. 

The pipe through Sanders, now Library street, through 
which the water now passes, and which materially shortens 
the distance, was not located until several years later. 



528 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

This water from the well, which became available to Hud- 
son water-takers in 1893, was far superior in quality to that 
formerly drawn from the small mud pond. 

The Hudson Water Works Company bonded its plant 
for $20,000 at five per cent interest. These bonds were 
held in Nashua for several years. 

Sometime previous to June, 1901, the water works 
were reported to have been sold to parties in Boston, but 
those parties, after managing the business for a few months, 
failed to make a full success, and George O. Sanders again 
became the principal owner of the stock of the company. 

Previous to July 1, 1903, all, or nearly all, the stock of 
the Hudson Water Works Company was sold and trans- 
ferred to parties in Portland, Maine. The bonds of the 
company were also transferred from Nashua to Maine, and 
were increased in amount to $25,000, the full amount al- 
lowed by the charter. 

The Hudson Water Company was incorporated in 
1905, act approved February 14, 1905. 

With the exception of the names of the incorporators, 
a slight change of the name of the company, and a change 
in section eight, the charter of 1905 is substantially identi- 
cal with that of 1893. In the former charter of 1893, sec- 
tion eight permitted the company, under certain specified 
conditions, to borrow money and issue bonds therefor, not 
to exceed the amount of $25,000. Section eight of the 
charter of 1905, contained a similar provision, providing for 
the issue of bonds, but without limit as to the amount to 
be issued. 

The growth of Hudson village since the water began 
to be distributed among its inhabitants in 1891 — about 
twenty-one years — has not been phenomenal, but it has 
had a constant, healthy increase from year to year. 

It has now one hundred and ninety-two houses, or ten- 
ements, five hundred and seventy inhabitants, three stores, 
two wheelwright shops, two blacksmith shops, a very exten- 
sive box manufactory, employing constantly about one 



HUDSON VILLAGE 529 

hundred men, two meeting-houses, two parsonages, and a 
modern, well-equipped, four-room school house. It also 
boasts one of the most substantial, convenient and beauti- 
ful modern public library buildings to be found in this 
state, which contains more than 5,000 books. It has three 
lines of electric railway service passing through the village, 
giving its inhabitants direct and constant communication — 
half-hourly in summer and hourly in winter — with the cities 
of Nashua, Manchester, Lawrence, Haverhill and Lowell, 
and many other points of less importance. 

The natural scenery along the beautiful Merrimack, 
where it forms the boundary for nearly seven miles between 
the city of Nashua and the town of Hudson, presents a 
very rare charm, and it is believed that few points in New 
England can equal it. 

This unpretending little village, nestled upon the bank 
of the Merrimack, made up principally of happy, humble 
homes of honest industry, is at present increasing in growth 
and population much more rapidly than at any former time 
in its history. 



CHAPTER XXXVIII 



Physicians 



It has been impossible to obtain sufficient data to give 
as full and accurate an account of all the physicians who 
have plied their profession in this town, while being resi- 
dents of the same, as is desirable, yet the following exhibit 
is believed to contain the names of nearly all those who 
have practiced the healing art while living here as citizens. 

Previous to 1850, several of the Nashua physicians had 
considerable practice in this town, and such practice of the 
Nashua doctors seems to have steadily increased, until at 
the present time they attend patients in Hudson in a large 
majority of cases, notwithstanding that our town physicians 
have been equally as skillful and trustworthy. 

Dr. Ezekiel Chase 

Dr. Ezekiel Chase, son of Thomas and Sarah (Stevens) 
Chase, was born in Newbury, Mass., November 30, 1707. 
He was married in Newbury, May 20, 1729 — then of Gro- 
ton, Mass. — by the Rev. John Tufts, to Priscilla Merrill, 
daughter of Deacon Abel Merrill of Newbury. Priscilla 
Merrill was a sister of the Rev. Nathaniel Merrill, the first 
minister ordained in this town. Dr. Ezekiel Chase was 
the fourth in descent from Aquilla Chase, who was born in 
England in 1618, and came to this country, probably before 
he had attained his majority, and settled in Newbury. 

He came to Nottingham — later Nottingham West — 
about 1740. He was first assessed here in 1741, and for 
the last time in 1780, and consequently was a citizen of this 
town for forty years. 

He was the first resident Hudson physician of whom 
there is any record. He probably practiced medicine con- 
530 



PHYSICIANS 531 

tinuously during those forty years. He was the first in- 
habitant of this town to hold a commission as Justice of 
the Peace, being appointed to that office in 1747. 

October 21, 1740, in consideration of three hundred 
and sixty pounds lawful money, Joseph Snow conveyed to 
Ezekiel Chase, one hundred acres of land in the south part 
of Nottingham, on the Merrimack River, a short distance 
from where the province line between New Hampshire and 
Massachusetts was established in 1741. He was one of 
the Hudson selectmen for nine years, moderator of annual 
town meetings eleven years and was town clerk. 

Priscilla, his wife, died February 22, 1768, in her fifty- 
ninth year. Some time after this event he married for a 
second wife, Elizabeth . 

Ezekiel and Elizabeth Chase conveyed the farm of one 
hundred acres, which he bought of Joseph Snow in 1740, 
to Samuel Pollard, August 9, 1773. Deed recorded Vol. 
10, page 79, Hillsborough County Registry of Deeds. 

March 26, 1779, they conveyed to John Pollard fifty- 
four acres of land with buildings, lying near the former 
tract and on the Ferry road, with two adjoining tracts. 

Dr. Chase was not assessed in Nottingham West after 
1780, and no further record in any way relating to him can 
be found. Undoubtedly he removed from town about that 
time. 

Dr. John Hall 

Dr. John Hall was a resident of this town in 1779 and 
1780. Little is known of him. His residence was with 
or near that of Captain Samuel Marsh, about one and one- 
fourth miles north of Taylor's Falls bridge on the River 
road. 

There is a record of the birth of children of John and 
Alice Hall: John, born February 26, 1779; Thomas, born 
February 21, 1780. 



532 history of hudson 

Dr. Joseph Gray 

Dr. Joseph Gray came into town about 1782, and was 
assessed here until 1792. He resided on "Hills Row," near 
what later became the Warren Hills farm. We find re- 
corded the births of children of Joseph and Lucy Gray: 
Lucy, born February 5, 1785; Joseph, born February 9, 
1788. He appears to have had a former wife, as there is a 
record of the birth of Henry, son of Joseph and Susan 
Gray, May 27, 1783. 

Dr. Apollos Pratt 

Dr. Apollos Pratt practiced herein 1803 and 1804. In 
this town, March 15, 1804, he married Sally Wason, who 
was probably the daughter of Samuel and Margaret Wason, 
born March 24, 1778, and twin sister to Hannah, who died 
young. There is no further record of him. 

Dr. Paul Tenney 

Dr. Paul Tenney was born in Rowley, Mass., April 11, 
1763. On November 2, 1790, he married Sarah Gibson, 
born in Pelham, September 26, 1767. He came into this 
town as early as 1789, and followed his vocation here for 
over thirty years. For two years he lived near the Joseph 
Blodgett place on the Lowell road. Afterwards his resi- 
dence was at Hudson Center on the south side of the Pel- 
ham road, and at the place later owned by Dr. James Em- 
ery, and now, 1912, the home of Henry C. Brown. 

He owned quite a large farm. His children were: 
Noyes, born September 26, 1791, died January 30, 1853; 
Kimball, born April 18, 1793, died August 16, 1832; Daniel, 
born June 15, 1795, died November 20, 1840; James, born 
June 25, 1798, died May 30, 1842; Paul, born March 1, 
1802, died December 9, 1842; Silas, born September 4, 
1805; Franklin, born January 17, 1808. 



PHYSICIANS 533 

His wife, Sarah, died October 25, 1818, at the age of 
fifty-one. December 2, 1819, he married Sally, who was 
the daughter of Elijah and Miriam Hills, and who was born 
in this town, April 13, 1774. Dr. Tenney died April 6, 
1821, and was laid in a tomb he had constructed near his 
residence, where his first wife and several of his children 
were also placed. This is the only tomb in Hudson. 

He was a man of intelligence and ability, and a physi- 
cian of skill. 

Dr. Nathaniel P. Marsh 

Nathaniel Peabody Marsh, son of Jonathan and Betsey 
(Sawyer) Marsh, was born in Nottingham West, August 20, 
1791. He studied medicine with Dr. Paul Tenney, and be- 
came an educated physician as early as 1817. He settled 
in Bow, N. H., where he practiced his chosen profession 
with good success for a brief period. He died of consump- 
tion December 17, 1819, at the age of twenty-eight years. 
"A man of much promise and much lamented." 

Dr. Daniel Tenney 

Dr. Daniel Tenney, son of Dr. Paul and Sarah (Gib- 
son) Tenney, born in Nottingham West, June 15, 1795, 
studied medicine with his father and became a practitioner 
in this town before his father's death in 1821. 

He resided for a time in the John Strickland house, 
later known as the Pease house. He continued to prac- 
tice his profession here until after 1831, when he removed 
to Derry, where he continued to practice until his decease. 
This occurred very suddenly in Boston, April t>, 1840, 
under most distressing circumstances. 

Dr. Dustin Barrett 

Dr. Dustin Barrett, son of Isaac and Roxanna (Marsh) 
Barrett, was born in this town in 1794. He became a prac- 
ticing physician in his native town about 1817. He mar- 



534 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

ried, June 8, 1826, Hannah Chadwick, of Bradford, Mass., 
and died June 1, 1831, aged 37 years. He is said to have 
been a physician of much skill. June 2, 1823, John Fos- 
ter conveyed to Dustin Barrett, physician, seven acres 
of land a short distance east of the town house, upon which 
he built a house. This house has had the reputation of 
always having been occupied by physicians. 

Dr. Barrett was its first occupant, and after his de- 
cease, Dr. Daniel Tenney was its tenant. Dr. Henry M. 
Hooke was its occupant from about 1843 to 1848, when 
Dr. James Emery for a time lived there. September 21, 
1854, Mary E. Barrett, daughter of Dr. Dustin Barrett, of 
Bradford, Mass., conveyed it to Dr. David O. Smith. Dr. 
Smith occupied it as his home until his decease, February 
15, 1906. The family of Dr. Smith still reside at the old 
homestead. 

Dr. Elijah Colbu rn 

Elijah Colburn, son of Zaccheus and Rachel (Hills) 
Colburn, born in this town, September 8, 1795, was gradu- 
ated at Harvard Medical College with the degree of M. D. 
in 1823. 

He began his professional life as a physician in his 
native town, but as early as 1825, permanently settled in 
Nashua Village, then a part of the township of Dunstable, 
containing about one thousand inhabitants. The name of 
Dunstable was changed to that of Nashua, January 1, 1837. 

Dr. Colburn was one of the first physicians to estab- 
lish himself in the new and growing village of Nashua, and 
is said to have been the first to travel with a horse into the 
adjoining towns, including that of Hudson. He had a long 
and useful career. 

As a physician and surgeon he was among the very 
best at that time in Nashua. He married, June 22, 1826, 
Sarah Belknap, of Framingham, Mass. He died in Nashua, 
January 13, 1881. 



physicians 535 

Dr. Zaccheus Colburn 

The youngest son of Zaccheus and Rachel (Hills) Col- 
burn, born January 5, 1801, also became a physician in 
Hudson, where he continued as a practitioner for several 
years. Previous to 1840 he removed to Manchester, N. 
H., where he settled permanently, and where it is said he 
acquired an extensive and successful practice, which he 
followed for many years. He died in Manchester. 

Dr. Henry M. Hooke 

Dr. Henry M. Hooke came to Hudson Center several 
years after the decease of Dr. Barrett, probably near 1843. 
He remained here, where his practice gave general satis- 
faction, until about 1848, when he removed to Lowell, 
Mass., and died very suddenly soon after. 

Dr. James Emery 

Dr. James Emery came into this town as a physician 
as early as 1848. He was a young man about twenty-six 
years of age. His experience as a physician at that time 
was necessarily quite limited. His wife was a daughter of 
John Goodspeed of Litchfield. 

In 1849, he purchased the Dr. Paul Tenney buildings, 
with twelve acres of land, at Hudson Center, which he 
continued to occupy as his home for many years. He be- 
came popular as a physician and acquired an extensive 
practice here. 

He continued to practice his profession with good suc- 
cess, until about 1879, when by reason of failing health he 
was compelled to retire. He died September 30, 1880, 
aged 58 years and three months. He left no surviving 
children. 



536 history of hudson 

David Onslow Smith 

David Onslow Smith, only child of Alvan and Patty 
(Robinson) Smith, was born November 12, 1823, at Not- 
tingham West and died February 15, 1906, aged eighty-two. 

He studied at Nashua Literary Institute and at Pink- 
erton Academy at Derry, New Hampshire. For several 
years he taught public and private schools in his own and 
neighboring towns with great success. In 1850, he gradu- 
ated from Harvard Medical School with honor, winning 
the prize offered to the student passing the best examina- 
tion in surgery. 

After graduation he settled in Hudson in the same 
year, and soon had a large practice. He married, August 
30, 1855, Mary Hannah Greeley, born October 30, 1832, 
and died in Hudson, December 27, 1867, daughter of Reu- 
ben and Joanna C. (Merrill) Greeley of Hudson. He set- 
tled in the Dr. Dustin Barrett house, situated a short dis- 
tance east of Hudson Center, which he purchased Septem- 
ber 21, 1854. 

They had five children, all born in Hudson: Minnie 
Eugenie, born June 5, 1856; Edmund Greeley, born Au- 
gust 10, 1857, died March 29, 1869; Martha Robinson, born 
July 21, 1859; Herbert Llewellyn, born January 9, 1862; 
Henry Onslow, born December 18, 1864. He married 
(second) Hannah P., daughter of Luther and Polly L. 
(Smith) Haselton, born in Hudson, September 20, 1835. 

Dr. Smith was a physician deeply skilled in the vari- 
ous branches of his profession. He was always studious, 
very industrious, and never allowed himself to neglect his 
patients. 

His large, long-continued practice extended largely 
into the adjoining towns of Pelham, Windham and London- 
derry. 

Greatly interested in music, he taught singing schools 
in several towns, and for a number of years served as con- 
ductor of a chorus recruited from several surrounding 




HERBERT L. SMITH, M. D. 



PHYSICIANS 537 

towns. He also composed considerable music of merit. 
In early manhood he held the office of captain in the state 
militia. In politics he was a Republican and was a mem- 
ber of the constitutional convention of 1889. 

Dr. Herbert Llewellyn Smith 

Dr. Herbert Llewellyn Smith, eldest son of David O. 
and Mary H. (Greeley) Smith, was born in Hudson, Janu- 
ary 9, 1862. He completed his preparatory course in 1878, 
by graduating from the Nashua high school and went from 
there to Dartmouth College, from which he graduated with 
the class of 1882. He afterwards entered Harvard Medi- 
cal School, where he received the degree of M. D., in 1887. 

During his years of student life he assisted in the pay- 
ment of his expenses by teaching the village school at 
Hanover, 1882-1883, and by teaching English and short- 
hand writing in the Boston high school, 1883-1887. 

In 1886-87, he was house surgeon in the Boston City 
Hospital, assistant superintendent of that institution in 
1887-89, and acting superintendent a portion of that time. 

Entering the practice of medicine in Boston, in 1889, 
he was professor of surgery in the Boston Dental College, 
from 1889 to 1896, and surgeon to out patients and assist- 
ant surgeon to the Boston City Hospital from 1890 to 1896. 
He studied in London, Paris and Vienna, in 1891-92; was 
secretary of the Suffolk District Medical Society from 1891 
to 1896; secretary of the Boston Medical Association from 
1892 to 1896; professor of clinical surgery in Tufts Medi- 
ical School in 1885-1896, and made special study of frac- 
tures of the elbow joint and devised a method of treatment, 
which has since been used extensively in hospital practice 
and recommended by authorities. 

While at the hospital he invented apparatus and in- 
struments now in general use. In 1896, after an attack of 
pneumonia, his health failed and he was obliged to give up 
work for a year, and remained during that time at the old 
home in Hudson. 



538 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

He opened an office, in 1897, in Nashua, and has since 
then been engaged in practice there, where he has taken 
high rank in both medical and surgical circles. 

He has been a member of the Massachusetts Medical 
Society, the New Hampshire Medical Society, the Ameri- 
can Medical Association, the New Hampshire Surgical 
Club, and the Nashua Medical Association. He is a mem- 
ber of the staff of the Nashua Emergency Hospital and St 
Joseph's Hospital. In addition to attending to the numer- 
ous and exacting demands of a large practice, he has pre- 
pared and published various medical papers, including those 
on original operations for fractures of the elbow joint and 
cleft palate. 

Dr. Smith is a member of Hudson Lodge, No. 94, In- 
dependent Order of Odd Fellows, Nashoonon Encamp- 
ment, and Canton A., of Nashua. He is a member of the 
Ancient York Lodge, No 89, Ancient Free and Accepted 
Masons; Meridian Royal Arch Chapter, No. 9; Israel Hunt 
Council, No. 8; St. George Commandery, Knight Tem- 
plars; Edward A. Raymond Consistory, thirty second de- 
gree, of Nashua, and Bektash Temple, Ancient Arabic Or- 
der Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. 

Dr. Herbert L. Smith married in Charlestown, Mass., 
September 24, 1890, Charlotte S. DeWolfe, born in 
Charlestown, April 22, 1867, daughter of Lewis E. and 
Louisa (Graves) DeWolfe. 

The children of this union have been: Theodora 
Lottchen, born in Vienna, Austria, January 18, 1892, and 
died in Charlestown, February 18, 1899; David Onslow, 
born in Boston, November 22, 1893; Llewellyn DeWolfe, 
born in Nashua, April 18, 1898; Marion Louise, born in 
Nashua, February 3, 1900. 

Dr. Henry Onslow Smith 

Dr. Henry Onslow Smith, youngest son of Dr. David 
O. and Mary H. (Greeley) Smith, born December 18, 1864, 
is the only resident practicing physician in this town at 



PHYSICIANS 539 

this time. After a thorough education at Dartmouth Col- 
lege and Bellevue Hospital Medical College of New York, 
followed by a year's service as resident physician in a New 
York hospital, he began practice under the oversight and 
guidance of his father in 1888, at the age of twenty-four 
years. 

His practice from the first has increased and improved 
gradually but steadily until the present, when it is quite 
extensive in this town, and also in several of the adjoining 
towns. 

He is a member of the New Hampshire Medical Soci- 
ety, and the American Medical Association. He has been 
a trustee of the public library since it was established and 
has been its treasurer from the first. He is a director of 
the Nashua Protestant Orphanage Association. He is a 
member of Hudson Lodge, No. 94, Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows, Nashoonon Encampment, and Canton A., of 
Nashua. He has been a useful member of the board of 
health for sixteen years and has been its chairman for the 
greater part of the time, and is still acting in that capacity. 
He is also a member of the school board, which office he 
has held for several years. 

September 4, 1889, he married Marcia A. Deering of 
Waterboro, Maine. He and his wife reside near his father's 
homestead. They have one son, Deering Greeley Smith, 
born in Hudson, June 5, 1896. 



CHAPTER XXXIX 

Voting Lists of Hudson 

The first printed check list used at any election in this 
town was at the annual town meeting, March 10, 1874. 

For many years prior to that date the law provided 
that: 

The selectmen shall lodge with the town clerk, and shall also cause 
to be posted up in one or more public places in the town, an alphabetical 
list of all the legal voters therein, fifteen days at least prior to any meet- 
ing for the choice of state or county officers, representatives in congress, 
or electors of president and vice president. 

The selectmen shall be in session, at some convenient place, for so 
long a time as shall be necessary, within three days next preceding any 
such meeting, for the purpose of correcting said list; and one session 
shall be for two hours at least on the day before the opening of the meet- 
ing. 

Notice of the times and places of holding said sessions shall be given 
upon said lists at the time of posting up the same. 

The selectmen shall hear all applications for the insertion of the 
name of any person on said list, or the erasure of any name therefrom, 
and may examine the party or any witness thereto, upon oath, which may 
be administered by any member of the board. 

They shall insert the name of every legal voter omitted, and erase 
the name of every person not a legal voter. 

Previous to 1874, these check-lists had been written 
by the selectmen. When the check-list was printed for 
the first time in that year, at an expense of six dollars, 
some of the town's leading citizens considered it a piece of 
extravagance, and predicted that it would never be re- 
peated. 

However, it proved to be much more convenient for 
the clerk when checking the names of voters, and saved 
considerable time, permitting the business of the meeting 
to be completed at an earlier hour than formerly. The 
many names filled much less space in print than when 
540 



VOTING LISTS OF HUDSON 



541 



written, and could be more quickly identified and checked 
by the clerk. Hence no written check-list has been made 
or used in this town since that time. 

Check-List for 1874 



Allen, William H. 
Andrews, George G. 
Annis, Parker B. 
Atwood, David 
Baker, John H. 
Barron, Alden H. 
Batchelder, Mark 
Bennett, Marcus F. 
Berry, John VV. 
Berry, George W. 
Blanchard, Silas M. 
Blodgett, Elmer H. 
Blodgett, Augustus F. 
Blood, John 
Bowles, Prescott 
Burleigh, Marcellus 
Burnham, Amory 
Burns, David 
Butler, Henry W. 
Buttrick, Clifton E. 
Caldwell, Robert D 
Caldwell, Thomas 
Campbell, Bradford 
Carnes, James 
Chase, John 
Chase, William F. 
Chase, Nathaniel 
Cheney, George 
Clement, David 
Clyde, Samuel W. 
Colburn, Paul 
Colburn, Isaac 



Andrews, Gilman 
Andrews, Robert A. 
Annis, William P. 
Baker, Alexis 
Barrett, James 
Barron, Solomon R. 
Belknap, Andrew J. 
Berry, Daniel M. 
Berry, Edward F. 
Blake, Joseph H. 
Blodgett, Austin 
Blodgett, Warren 
Blodgett, Nathan M. 
Bowers, Benjamin S. 
Burleigh, Freeman 
Burnett, James 
Burnham, John A. 
Burns, Luke 
Butler, Moses 
Brewin, Barnard 
Caldwell, Nathan 
Caldwell, George E. 
Carlton, Joseph G. 
Case, George F. 
Chase, Benjamin D. 
Chase, William H. 
Chase, Samuel 
Choate, Joseph 
Clement, David, Jr. 
Coburn, James M. 
Colburn, George P. 
Colburn, Henry T. 



942 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Colburn, Newton 
Connell, Tobias 
Conneil, John 
Corliss, James 
Corliss, Austin D. 
Cross, William G. 
Cross, Levi E. 
Cummings, Hiram 
Cummings, Frank A. 
Cutter, James 
Dane, John O. 
Davis, Joseph 
Donahoe, Francis P. 
Doughty, George L. 
Durgin, James A. 
Eaton, Alfred 
Emerson, Arthur S. 
Ford, Thomas J. 
Ford, James 
Ford, Moses B. 
Ford, James C. 
Fuller, Joseph 
Fuller, Cyrus 

Gage, Daniel T. 

Gillis, John 

Glover, Andrew M. 

Go wing, Samuel 

Gowing, Edwin S. 

Greeley, Jackson E. 

Greeley, S. Augustus 

Greeley, Daniel M. 

Griffin, Rufus K. 

Groves, Robert 

Hamblet, Wilbur 

Hamlett, Alvin 

Hardy, Joseph 

Harris, Myron W. 

Haselton, George W. 



Colburn, Daniel A- 
Connell, Philip 
Connor, John 
Corliss, James N. 
Corliss, Daniel P. 
Cross, Hiram 
Cummings, Nathan 
Cummings, Enoch 
Cressey, Charles A, 
Dane, Charles F. 
Davis, George H. 
Donahoe, Timothy 
Donnelly, Owen 
Durant, George W, 
Dutton, John E. 
Eaton, James A. 
Emery, James 
Ford, Timothy S. 
Ford, William R. 
Ford, David C. 
Fox, Henry J. 
Fuller, Benjamin 
Fuller, Lorenzo 
Gage, Daniel 
Glines, George A. 
Glover, Warren 
Gowing, George T. 
Greeley, Stephen D. 
Greeley, Samuel 
Greeley, James C. 
Greeley, John 
Grover, Asaph 
Guyon, Henry M. 
Hamblet, Eli 
Hamlett, Horace J. 
Harris, Albert 
Harvey, Edward 
Heath, Jeremiah 



VOTING LISTS OF HUDSON 



543 



Heath, Henry W. 
Hill, Warren 
Hill, Abijah 
Hill, Granville 
Hill, Osgood 
Hill, George E. 
Hills, Alden 
Hills, Albert J. F. 
Hills, Edwin E. 
Hills, Rossill F. 
Hills, Joseph A. 
Hoffman, George 
Hull, James 
Hutchins, Alonzo G. 
Jaquith, George D. 
Kelley, William 
Kelley, John 
Kidder, Benjamin H. 
Lenahan, Thomas 
Leslie, William H. 
Lewis, Harvey G. 
Marsh, Otis R. 
Marshall, Frederick O. 
Marshall, Albert H. 
Marshall, John B. 
Martin, Elisha A. 
McCoy, James 
Melvin, Frank P. 
Melvin, William 
Merrill, James B. 
Merrill, Henry A. 
Merrill, William 
Miller, William D. 
Millet, James 
Morrison, Augustus R. 
Newcomb, Charles H. 
O'Neil, Michael 
Pollard, Joseph F. 



Hill, Thomas 
Hill, Justin E. 
Hill, F. Augustus 
Hill, Robert D. 
Hill, Alonzo 
Hills, Henry H. 
Hills, George W. 
Hills, Silas 
Hills, Arthur F. 
Hills, Clifton M. 
Hodgman, John S* 
Hopkins, J. W. 
Hunting, Silas 

Ingersoll, 

Joy, Lemuel T. 
Kelley, John H. 
Kelley, Bernard J. 
Kuhn, George W. 
Lenahan, John 
Lewis, William F. 
Marsh, Hiram 
Marsh, Walter H. 
Marshal], Henry 
Marshall, George W. 
Martin, Elisha 
Martin, Dwight E. 
McDonald, George 
Melvin, Tolford D. 
Merrill, Benjamin A. 
Merrill, William T. 
Merrill, George E. 
Miller, William W. 
Miller, Franklin P. 
Morrison, Samuel 
Morse, Nathaniel M. 
O'Connell, Michael 
Poff, Peter 
Powell, John W. 



544 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Putnam, John P. 
Richardson, Elijah 
Robinson, John B. 
Robinson, Frank P. 
Robinson, Henry C. 
Ryan, James 
Sanford, Wilmot P. 
Sargent, Dana 
Senter, John L. 
Senter, Simon A. 
Shaw, James H. 
Simpson, Samuel 
Smith, Samuel 
Smith, Obadiah F. 
Smith, Kimball 
Smith, Samuel, 2d 
Smith, Daniel B. 
Smith, Frederick F. 
Smith, William H. 
Smith, Reuben P. 
Smith, David O. 
Smith, Norris 
Smith, Henry F. 
Spalding, Reuben 
Spalding, Benjamin 
Sprake, Oliver 
Stearns, Ephraim 
Steele, S. Alpheus 
Stewart, Robert S. 
Tandy, Ezekiel 
Taylor, William H. 
Thomas, Tyler 
Thompson, Martin V. B. 
Thorning, James C. 
Towle, William H. 
Trow, George W. 
Turner, John 
Walton, Waldo P. 



Putnam, Moses A. S. 
Ripley, Alfred C. 
Robinson, Simeon 
Robinson, Lucius F. 
Robinson, Alphonzo 
Sanford, John 
Sanford, Hamlin B. 
Sargent, William F. 
Senter, Charles E. 
Senter, Eliphalet 
Shea, John 
Simpson, Samuel R. 
Smith, Alvan 
Smith, Henry 
Smith, Dustin B. 
Smith, Daniel 
Smith, John C. 
Smith, Isaac N. 
Smith, Andrew J. 
Smith, George A. 
Smith, Edgar L. 
Smith, Martin 
Spalding, Charles YY 
Spalding, Jacob F. 
Spear, Thompson 
Sprake, Jonathan 
Steele, Frederick 
Steele, Charles, 
Sullivan, John 
Taylor, Reuben 
Templeton, Ira 
Thomas, Wellington H. 
Thompson, John M. 
Tolles, Lucien M. 
Towns, Joseph W. 
Trow, Richard 
Walton, James D. 
Warren, Adams F. 



VOTING LISTS OF HUDSON 



545 



Watts, Hugh 


Webster, John 


Webster, Nathan P. 


Webster, Kimball 


Wentworth, Nathaniel 


Wheeler, Josiah K. 


Wiggin, A. C. 


Willard, Peter E. 


Willoughby, Mark 


Willoughby, Edwin 


Wilson, Franklin 


Wilson, George H. 


Wilson, J. Frank 


Winn, John 


Winn, J. Sylvanus 


Winn, Rufus E. 


Winn, Paul T. 


Winn, Joseph 


Winn, Amos 


Winn, William F. 


Winn, Ira E. 


Wood, Charles 


Wood, George W. 


Wood, George S. 


Wryn, John 


Wyles, William W. 


Wyman, Elbridge 


Young, Israel W. 


Young, John P. 


The list contained th 


ree hundred and twenty-one names, 


of which two hundred an 


d eighty-four cast a ballot, leaving 


thirty-seven that did not 


vote at the meeting mentioned. 



Check-List, 1909 

This list, used at the town election, March 9, 1909, 
contained three hundred and eighty-four names — sixty-three 
more than the list of 1874, thirty-five years before — an in- 
crease of about nineteen per cent. On this list are found 
forty-nine names that were on the list of 1874, or about 
fifteen and one-half per cent in thirty-five years. 



Abbott, George H. 
Ackerman, William G. 
Adams, Prescott A. 
Andrews, Howard A. 
Andrews, William A. 
Annis, Joseph F. 
Baker, John J. 
Baker, William W. 
Barker, Carl E. 
Barry, Lawrence M. 
Bassett, Joseph E. 



Abare, Wilber L. 
Ackerman, William H. 
Andrew, Arnold 
Andrews, Robert A. 
Andrews, Arthur S. 
Baker, John H. 
Baker, Oswald P. 
Barker, Eugene L. 
Barron, Irvin E. 
Bassett, Charles H. 
Batchelder, Allen H. 



546 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Batch elder, Reuben 
Bell, C. P. 

Blanchard, Edgar F. 
Blodgett, Augustus F. 
Blodgett, Elmer H. 
Blood, William J. 
Boynton, Herbert L. 
Bradley, Allen E. 
Brown, John E. 
Bruce, Elias A. 
Burneche, Annide 
Butler, Albert S. 
Butler, George F. 
Buttrick, Clifton E. 
Caldwell, George E. 
Campbell, Charles E. 
Campbell, Osman S. 
Campbell, Carl H. 
Chandler, Bradish L. 
Chase, Charles H. 
Chase, William 
Clark, George M. 
Clement, David 
Clement, Harry E. 
Clyde, George W. 
Cobb, Bert H. 
Colburn, Daniel A. 
Connell, Robert T. 
Connell, Harry J. 
Coombs, Walter R. 
Corliss, Alonzo 
Cram, John F. 
Cummings, Hiram 
Cummings, Frank A. 
Cummings, Charles E. 
Cutler, Aaron 
Daniels, Charles A. 

Davis, 



Belevich, Alexander 
Blanchard, Henry W. 
Blodgett, Harry D. 
Blodgett, Austin J. 
Blood, George F. 
Boyle, John H. 
Boynton, John E. 
Brown, Henry C. 
Brown, Alvin S. 
Buchanan, George H. 
Butler, Henry 
Butler, Henry C. 
Buttrick, Leander C. 
Buttrick, Caldwell 
Campbell, Bradford 
Campbell, William H. 
Campbell, Frank E. 
Chamberlain, Cornelius W. 
Chapman, Frank M. 
Chase, Samuel 
Cheney, George 
Clark, Henry 
Clement, Elmer D. 
Clifford, Patrick 
Coates, James G. 
Cochran, Frank B. 
Connell, Frank A. 
Connell, Philip J. 
Connell, Otis R. 
Coombs, Elmer L. 
Cote, Philip H. 
Cross, Arden C. 
Cummings, Willis P. 
Cummings, Aldon E. 
Curtis, Ulysses G. 
Daniels, William T. 
Davis, George H. 
George W. 



VOTING LISTS OF HUDSON 



547 



Davis, Henry 
Donahoe, Patrick 
Donnelly, Charles 
Donnelly, Edward B. 
Doty, Norman A. D. 
Dunklee, Charles E. 
Durant, Joel P. 
Durivage, .Frank 
Eaton, Walter D. 
Eayres, Winslow P. 
Estes, Charles F. 
Ferryall, Fred 
Fisher, Oliver A. 
Ford, Thomas J. 
Freeman, Andrew N. 
French, Simon 
Fuller, Albert A. 
Galvin, Dennis F. 
Gay, Elbridge 
Gay, Warren O. 
Gilbert, Charles B. 
Girouard, Joseph 
Glover, Charles H. 
Gowing, Sidney P. 
Gowing, Edwin S. 
Greeley, Daniel M. 
Greeley, John P. 
Greenwood, Cyrus N. 
Griffin, Charles E. 
Groves, Robert 
Groves, Robert G. 
Gaudette, John B. 
Hanscomb, Charles H. 
Harvey, Charles H. 
Harwood, Walter J. 
Harwood, Harry 
Haselton, William C. 
Hills, Franklin A. 



Dodge, Walter D. 
Donnelly, Eugene 
Donnelly, John 
Dooley, George N. 
Downs, Edwin P. 
Durant, Lucius W. 
Durivage, George H. 
Eaton, Alfred 
Eayres, Edward F. 
Emerson, Harry D. 
Estey, Aaron P. 
Fish, Burton K. 
Ford, Charles M. 
Foster, Charles W. 
French, Menzel S. 
Frost, Neil W. 
Fuller, Willis L. 
Gatz, Arno E. 
Gay, Leonard A. 
Gester, Albert 
Gilbert, Leon A. 
Glover, Andrew M. 
Goodale, Walt M. 
Gowing, George P. 
Gowing, Edwin E. 
Greeley, Samuel A. 
Green, Job W. 
Griffin, George E. 
Griffin, John E. 
Groves, John C. 
Groves, William H. 
Hammond, Harry L. 
Harvey, J. F. 
Harwood, Harold J. 
Harwood, Walter T. 
Haselton, Arthur W. 
Hersey, Franklin J. 
Hills, Orlando G. 



548 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Hoag, David T. 
Holt, Eugene A. 
Hopkins, Charles H. 
Howe, James P. 
Hunter, Frank H. 
Jacques, Napoleon 
Joy, Arthur L. 
Jewell, Albert 
Kimball, John R. 
LeBoufe, Archie 
Lemoy, Philip C. 
Leslie, Charles C. 
Leslie, Eugene W. 
Manning, Fred J. 
Marshall, Frank E. 
Marshall, John B. 
Marshall, Dana S. 
Marshall, Eugene J. 
Martin, Ezra A. 
McAfee, Charles S. 
McAfee, Alfred H. 
McCoy, James 
McCoy, Herman R. 
McCoy, Elgin L. 
Melendy, Charles F. 
Melvin, Allen H. 
Merrill, James Everett 
Merrill, Warren E. S. 
Montgomery, Francis 
Montgomery, Frank 
Morey, Dell E. 
Morris, William 
Morrison, Augustus R. 
Norton, Charles L. 
Olney, Edwin 
Osgood, Anson A. 
Payne, Faybian 



Hoag, James H. 
Holton, Lewis M. 
Hopkins, Guy A. 
Howe, James G. 
Hutchinson, William 
Jacques, Frank A. 
Jennings, Wilbur S. 
Kenrick, Harry B. 
LaQuerre, Joseph 
LeGallee, Joseph H. 
Leonard, Sidney W. 
Leslie, William H. 
Lewis, Harvey G. 
Marsh, Walter H. 
Marshall, Natt W. 
Marshall, George W. 
Marshall, Herbert W. 
Martin, Horace A. 
Maxfield, Hayden S. 
McAfee, Carl A. 
McCann, George W. 
McCoy, Arus 
McCoy, Daniel G. 
McQuesten, Walter T. 
Melvin, Augustus J. 
Merrill, George A. 
Merrill, Benjamin A. 
Miller, Charles L. 
Montgomery, William J. 
Morey, Henry 
Morrill, Edwin H. 
Morris, Arthur E. 
Norris, Herbert L. 
Ober, Andrew M. 
Orne, Thomas J. 
Osgood, Edward C. 
Payne, Victor W. 



VOTING LISTS OF HUDSON 



549 



Paine, Clinton E. 
Parker, Charles C. 
Parker, Gerry F. 
Parker, Phineas A. 
Perham, George A. 
Perkins, Basil N. 
Phalen, Frank 
Pollard, Raymond J. 
Questrom, Samuel 
Ratte, Peter T. 
Reed, Elijah R. 
Rich, Forrest A. 
Rivers, Eugene 
Robinson, Alphonzo 
Robinson, Frank P. 
Robinson, George W. 
Rogers, Frank P. 
Roleau, John 
Rounsevelle, John 
Sanders, Abram 
Sargent, Nathaniel 
Shattuck, John 
Sheldon, David P. 
Shores, Fred F. 
Simpson, Alfred L. 
Simpson, Fred S. 
Smith, Osman W. 
Smith, Isaac N. 
Smith, Hiland 
Smith, Irvin A. 
Smith, Henry O. 
Smith, Fred E. 
Smith, Arthur 
Smith, Sherman W. 
Smith, Elmer F. 
Snow, Royal G. 
Spalding, Charles L. 



Parker, George H. 
Parker, James E. 
Parker, F. Laton 
Pease, Nelson H. 
Perkins, Sumner N. 
Peterson, Gustave 
Phillips, James A. 
Pudvah, Charles J. 
Rancour, Henry 
Ratte, Cyril 
Reed, George D. 
Rich, Walter G. 
Robarge, Joseph E. 
Robinson, Henry C. 
Robinson, John A. 
Robinson, Lester W. 
Rogers, Harry E. 
Rolland, Fred 
Sanborn, Edwin H. 
Sargent, Frank W. 
Senter, Eliphalet 
Shaw, Frank 
Shepard, Charles A. 
Shores, William F. 
Simpson, Edward G. 
Sinclair, Henry 
Smith, Henry F. 
Smith, Charles S. 
Smith, Nelson 
Smith, Herbert N. 
Smith, James 
Smith, Marcell H. 
Smith, Arthur W. 
Smith, Perley B. 
Smith, George L. 
Spalding, Charles W. 
Spalding, Edward A. 



550 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Stearns, William W. 
Steele, Silas T. 
Steele, Frederick 
Stevens, George A. 
Tardy, John 
Thomas, Pearl T. 
Thompson, George F. 
Thorne, Albert 
Tolles, Lucien M. 
Trow, Wallace G. 
Trufant, John M. 
Tvviss, Daniel L. 
Twiss, George W. 
Tyler, Francis O. 
Vantine, Charles 
Vose, George H. 
Walch, Chester M. 
Walker, James G. 
Walker, Henry E. 
Webber, George K. 
Welch, Henry N. 
Wentworth, John 
Wheeler, Josiah K. 
Wildes, Frank H. 
Willoughby, Harvey M. 
Wilshire, Frank 
Wilson, James F. 
Winn, Frank M. 
Winn, William F. 
Winn, Leon E. 
Woodbury, Fred E. 

Wyman, 



Steele, Charles A, 
Steele, George S. 
Steele, Fred G. 
Stewart, Albert A. 
Taylor, William H. 
Thompson, Fred W. 
Thorne, Charles 
Thorne, Arthur 
Trow, Arthur A. 
Trufant, Albert 
Trull, Christopher B. 
Twiss, Walter 
Twiss, Howard 
Upton, Charles R. 
Vaughn, Henry E. 
Walch, Clarence E. 
Walker, Gerry 
Walker, Laurentio E. 
Watts, William H. 
Webster, Kimball 
Wentworth, Nathaniel 
Weston, Jesse S. 
White, Charles 
Willoughby, Benjamin F. 
Wells, Edward J. 
Wilson, Hiram 
Winn, Elmer C. 
Winn, Rufus E. 
Winn, Frank A. 
Wood, George H. 
Woodward, Charles M. 
Fred D. 



CHAPTER XL 

Official Roster 

The following is a list of moderators of annual town 
meetings, town clerks and selectmen of the town of Not- 
tingham, from 1733 to 1741. 

Moderators of Annual Town Meetings 

Captain Robert Fletcher, 1733. 
Henry Baldwin, 1734, '37, '38. 
John Butler, 1735, '41. 
Joseph Snow, 1736, '39. 
Thomas Colburn, 1740. 

Selectmen 

1733, Henry Baldwin, Captain Robert Fletcher, John Taylor, Joseph 
Snow, John Butler. 

1734, Henry Baldwin, Robert Fletcher, Zaccheus Lovewell, John 
Butler, Eleazer Cummings. 

1735, John Butler, Robert Fletcher, Thomas Colburn. 

1736, Daniel Fletcher, William Cummings, John Butler. 

1737, Henry Baldwin, Joseph Hamblet, John Butler. 

1738, Henry Baldwin, John Butler, Joseph Hamblet, Joseph Winn, 
John Baldwin, 

1739, Eleazer Cummings, Zaccheus Lovewell, Jonathan Snow. 

1740, Thomas Colburn, Zaccheus Lovewell, John Snow. 

1741, Henry Baldwin, Joseph Hamblet, Thomas Gage. 

Town Clerks 

Henry Baldwin, 1733, '34, '37, '38, '41. 
John Butler, 1735, '36. 
Jonathan Snow, 1739, '40. 

Until 1741, the town of Nottingham was supposed to 
be wholly in Massachusetts, and was under the laws and 
jurisdiction of that commonwealth; but upon the settle- 
ment of the province line in that year, the town was divid- 
ed, and the greater part fell within the limits of New 
Hampshire. Nottingham in this state became a district, 
551 



552 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

and remained as such until 1746. There is no record of 
any town or district meeting from November 22, 1741, to 
August 9, 1743, at which last meeting the first district of- 
ficers were elected. 

Moderators of Annual Meetings. Selectmen and Town Clerks of 
the District of Nottingham. 



Moderators 



Henry Baldwin, 1743, '44. 
Thomas Colburn, 1745. 
Thomas Gage, 1746. 



Selectmen 



1743, Zaccheus Lovewell, Ezekiel Chase, Samuel Greeley. 

1744, Ezekiel Chase, Joseph Hamblet, John Marshall. 

1745, Zaccheus Lovewell, Samuel Greeley, Samuel Butler. 

Samuel Greeley was elected district clerk at the first 
district meeting that is found recorded, and was re-elected 
each year afterwards as long as Nottingham remained a 
district. 

The charter of Nottingham West as a town, as has 
been already stated, was dated July 5, 1746, and the first 
meeting for the election of officers was held July 17 of the 
same year. 

The following lists present the names of the persons 
who have held the several offices of moderator of annual 
town meetings, town clerks and selectmen from the year 
1746 to 1913, with the years in which they were respec- 
tively chosen : 

Moderators 

Zaccheus Lovewell, 1746. 

Thomas Colburn, 1747, '48, '49, '50, '51, '53, '58. 

Ezekiel Chase, 1752, '54, '55, '56, '57, '64, '65, '66, '67, '68, '76. 

Abraham Page, 1759, '60, '71, "12, 73, '74, '75, '77, '78. 

Daniel Merrill, 1761. 

Ephraim Cummings, 1762, '63. 

Henry Hale, 1769. 

George Burns, 1770. 



OFFICIAL ROSTER 553 

Asa Davis, 1779, '80, '83, '84, '85, '98, '99, 1800, '01. 
William Burns, 1781, '82, '95. 
Timothy Smith, 1786, '88, '89, '90. 
Samuel Marsh, 1787- 
Phineas Underwood, 1791, '92, '93, '94. 
Moses Johnson, 1796, '97. 
Jesse Davidson, 1802, '03. 

Isaac Merrill, 1804, '05, '06, '07, '08, '10, '11, '12. 
Robert Patterson, 1809. 

Caleb S. Ford, 1813, '14, '15, '16, '17, '19, '21, '22, '24, '23, '26, '27, 
'28, '29, '32. 

Noah Robinson, 1818. 

Joseph Greeley, 1820, '23. 

Thomas B. Wason, 1830, '31, '33, '34, '35, '36, '37, '38, '39. 

Jabez P. F. Cross, 1840, '41, '42, '43, '44, '45, '47, '48. 

Jeremiah Smith, 1846. 

Ethan Willoughby, 1850, '51. 

James Emery, 1853, '54, '59, '60, '66. 

James T. Palmer, 1855, '56, '57. 

Benjamin F. Chase, 1858. 

Timothy S. Ford, 1861. 

William H. Chase, 1S62, '63, '64, '65, '67, '68, '69, '70, '71. 

Caleb Richardson, 1872. 

Jacob F. Spalding, 1873. 

Dana Sargent, 1874, '75, '77. 

Benjamin A. Merrill, 1876. 

Josiah K. Wheeler, 1878, '81, '82, '83, '84, '85, '86, '87, '88, '89, '90. 

Stephen D. Greeley, 1879, '80. 

Kimball Webster, 1891, '92, '93, '94. 

Nathaniel Wentworth, 1895, '96, '97, '98- 

George W. Clyde, 1899, 1900, '03, '04. '05, '06, '07, '08, '09. 

Henry C. Brown, 1901, '02, '10, '11, '12, '13. 

For the years 1849 and 1852 the election of moderator 
is not recorded. 

Town Clerks from 1746 to 1913 

Samuel Greeley, 1746. 

Samuel Greeley, Jr., 1747. 

Doctor Ezekiel Chase, 1748. 

Samuel Greeley, Jr., 1749 to 1776. 

Samuel Greeley, Jr., 1777 to 1781. Son of the last Samuel. 

Timothy Smith, 1782 to 1784. 

Asa Davis, 1785 to 1795 and 1801 to 1807. 



554 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Joseph Greeley, 1796 to 1800. 

James Gibson, 1808 to 1811. 

Joseph Greeley, Jr., 1812 to 1S15. 

Joseph Pollard, 1816, '17. 

Asa Blodgett, 1818 to 1825. 

Foster Towns, 1826. 

Reuben Greeley, 1827 to 1837. 

James Pierce, 1838 and 1839. 

Henry M. Hooke, 1840. 

Daniel McCoy, 1841. 

Dustin B. Farnum, 1842 and 1843. 

Paul Colburn, 1844 to 1856. 

William H. Chase, 1857 and 1858. 

John C. Webster, 1859. 

Eli Hamblet, 1860 to 1868. 

Josiah K. Wheeler, 1869 and 1870. 

Waldo P. Walton, 1871, '72, '74. 

James Emery, 1875 and 1877 to 1S79. 

James G. Walker, 1876. 

James B. Merrill, 1873 and 1880 to 1890. 

John J. Baker, 1891 to 1883 and 1902 to 1909 and 1911 to 1913. 

George G. Andrews, 1894 to 1898. 

George E. Merrill, 1899 to 1901. 

George W. Clyde, 1910. 

Selectmen from 1746 to 1913 

1746, Samuel Greeley, Zaccheus Lovewell, Eleazer Cummings. 

1747, Ezekiel Chase, John Marsh, John Marshall, Samuel Greeley, 
Jr., James Wason. 

1748, Thomas Colburn, Samuel Greeley, Ezekiel Chase, William 
Cummings, James Hills. 

1749, John Marshall, Stephen Chase, Joseph Winn, Henry Hills, 
Samuel Greeley, Jr. 

1750, John Marsh, Samuel Greeley, Jr., George Burns. 

1751, Samuel Merrill, Eleazer Cummings, Samuel Greeley, Jr. 

1752, George Burns, Samuel Greeley, Jr., Josiah Cummings. 

1753, Samuel Marsh, Abraham Page, Samuel Greeley, Jr. 

1754, Thomas Colburn, Samuel Greeley, Jr., James Hills. 

1755, Ezekiel Chase, Roger Chase, Samuel Greeley, Jr. 
1756'57, Ezekiel Chase, Samuel Greeley. Jr., Ephraim Cummings. 

1758, Abraham Page, George Burns, James Hills. 

1759, Abraham Page, Samuel Greeley, Jr., Roger Chase. 

1760, Daniel Merrill, Ezekiel Hills, Henry Snow. 

1761, Samuel Greeley, Jr., Eleazer Cummings, Daniel Merrill. 



OFFICIAL ROSTER 555 

1762-'63, Samuel Greeley, Jr., Ephraini Cummings, Samuel Marsh. 

1764, Ezekiel Chase, George Burns, Asa Davis. 

1765, Henry Hale, Abraham Page, Ezekiel Hills. 

1766, Samuel Greeley, Jr., Ezekiel Chase, Ephraim Cummings. 

1767, Abraham Page, Nathaniel Davis, Asa Davis. 

1768, George Burns, Nathaniel Davis, Ezekiel Hills. 

1769, Abraham Page, Henry Hale. Asa Davis. 

1770, George Bums, Samuel Moor, Nathaniel Davis. 

1771, Abraham Page, Nathaniel Davis, Nehemiah Hadley. 
1772-74, Abraham Page, Nathaniel Davis, John Haseltine, Jr. 

1775, John Haseltine, Jr., Asa Davis, William Burns. 

1776, Samuel Marsh, John Caldwell, William Burns. 

1777, Samuel Marsh, Timothy Smith, George Burns, Jr. 

1778, John Haseltine, John Caldwell, Andrew Seavey. 

1779, Samuel Marsh, David Lawrence, Moses Johnson, Samuel Wa- 
son, Samuel Greeley. 

1780, Asa Davis, James P'ord, David Lawrence. 

1781, Samuel Marsh, John Hale, Isaac Merrill. 

1782 and 1784, Timothy Smith, John Haseltine, Jr., Samuel Bur- 
bank, Jr. 

1783, Timothy Smith, Nathaniel Davis, Samuel Burbank, Jr. 
1785-'88, Asa Davis, John Haseltine, Jr., Isaac Merrill. 
1789, Asa Davis, John Haseltine, Jr., Phineas Underwood. 
1790-'92, Asa Davis, Phineas Underwood, Thomas Hills. 
1793-'94, Asa Davis, Samuel Marsh, Phineas Underwood. 
1795-'96, Samuel Marsh, Page Smith, Isaac Colbum. 

1797, Samuel Marsh, David Lawrence, Isaac Merrill. 

1798, Asa Davis, Thomas Senter, Jonathan Burbank. 

1799, Jonathan Burbank, Isaac Merrill, Thomas Hills. 
1800 and 1804, Asa Davis, Isaac Merrill, Page Smith. 
1801, Asa Davis, Page Smith, Kleazer Cummings. 
1802'03, Asa Davis, Page Smith, Jesse Davidson. 
1805-'06, Asa Davis, Isaac Merrill, Caleb S. Ford. 

1807, Asa Davis, Caleb S. Ford, James Gibson. 

1808, Caleb S. Ford, James Gibson, Jeremiah Smith. 
1809 '10, Caleb S. Ford, James Gibson, Noah Robinson. 

1811, James Gibson, Jonathan Burbank, Moses Greeley. 

1812. Jonathan Burbank, Moses Greeley, Reuben Sargent. 
1813-'14, Moses Greeley, Joseph Greeley, Jr., Jeremiah Smith. 
1815 '16, Moses Greeley, Benjamin Merrill, William Hills. 
1817-T9, Caleb S. Ford, Thomas B. Wason, Jacob Chase. 

1820, Caleb S. Ford, Reuben Sargent, David Burns. 

1821, David Burns, William Hills, Noyes Tenney. 

1822, David Burns, Jacob Chase, Noyes Tenney. 



556 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

1823, Noyes Tenney, William Hills, Oliver Pollard. 

1824, Oliver Pollard, Noah Robinson, Reuben Greeley. 

1825, Oliver Pollard, Noah Robinson, Ebenezer Ford. 

1826, Reuben Greeley, James Pierce, William Hills. 
1827-'28, Reuben Greeley, James Pierce, Jacob Chase. 

1829, Caleb S. Ford, James Pierce, John Burnham. 

1830, James Pierce, William Hadley, Joseph Blodgett, Jr. 

1831, James Pierce, William Hadley, Thomas B. Wason. 

1832, Caleb S. Ford, Jeremiah Smith, Noah Robinson. 

1833, Noah Robinson, Timothy Ford, Jabez P. F. Cross. 

1834, Noah Robinson, Jabez P. F. Cross, James Wilson. 

1835, Reuben Greeley, Noah Robinson, Jabez P. F. Cross. 

1836, Reuben Greeley, Thomas B. Wason, David Robinson. 

1837, Thomas B. Wason, Reuben Greeley, Paul Hardy. 

1838, Thomas B Wason, Paul Hardy, Dustin B. Farnum. 

1839, Paul Hardy, Dustin B. Farnum, Jabez P. F. Cross. 
1840 '41, James Pierce, William Hadley, Warren Pollard. 

1842, Thomas Marsh, Greenleaf B. Farnum, Gilman Andrews. 

1843, Thomas B. Wason, Amos Hills, Paul Colburn. 

1844, Thomas B. Wason, Amos Hills, Gilman Andrews. 

1845, Jabez P. F. Cross, Gilman Andrews, Alvan Smith. 

1846, Gilman Andrews, Alvan Smith, Samuel Morrison. 

1847, Paul Hardy, Jabez P. F. Cross, Stephen D. Greeley. 

1848, Paul Hardy, Jeremiah Smith, Stephen D. Greeley. 

1849, James Pierce, Alvan Smith, Benjamin F. Chase. 

1850, Paul Hardy, Calvin Pollard, Stephen D. Greeley. 

1851, Alvan Smith, Calvin Pollard, Stephen D. Greeley. 

1852, Calvin Pollard, Stephen D. Greeley, George W. Burns. 

1853, James Pierce, George W. Burns, George W. Hills. 

1854, Stephen D. Greeley, Hiram Marsh, Benjamin F. Chase. 

1855, Benjamin F. Chase, Luther Pollard, John Cross. 

1856, David Clement, John Cross, James T. Palmer. 

1857, James T. Palmer, Eli Hamblet, Granville Hill. 

1858, Eli Hamblet, Granville Hill, Samuel Gowing. 

1859, Alvan Smith, John P. Pierce, Noah O. Robinson. 

1860, Hiram Marsh, Samuel Gowing, Silas Hills. 

1861, Eli Hamblet, Samuel Gowing, Daniel T. Gage. 

1862, Daniel T. Gage, Samuel Gowing, Caleb Richardson. 

1863, Daniel T. Gage, John Chase, Alden Hills. 

1864, Eli Hamblet, Alden Hills, Benjamin A. Merrill. 

1865-'66, Stephen D.Greeley, Benjamin F. Chase, Josiah K. Wheeler. 
1867-'68, Stephen D. Greeley, Benjamin F. Chase, Benjamin A. 
Merrill. 

1869, Eli Hamblet, Joseph Fuller, John M. Thompson. 



OFFICIAL ROSTER 557 

1870, Eli Hamblet, John M. Thompson, James 15. Merrill. 

1871, John M. Thompson, James B. Merrill, Augustus F. Blodgett. 

1872, James B. Merrill, Kimball Webster, Otis R. Marsh. 

1873, Kimball Webster, Otis R. Marsh, Charles W. Spalding. 

1874, Kimball Webster, Reuben Spalding, John Lenahan. 

1875, Kimball Webster, Reuben Spalding, Charles Steele. 

1876, Josiah K. Wheeler, John M. Thompson, George W. Trow. 

1877, John M. Thompson, Charles Steele, George W. Trow. 

1878, John M. Thompson, Lucien M. Tolles, William F. Winn. 

1879, Lucien M. Tolles, William F. Winn, Charles W. Spalding. 

1880, Lucien M. Tolles, Charles W. Spalding, William S. Weston. 

1881, Charles W. Spalding, Mark Batchelder, Arthur S. Andrews. 

1882, Josiah K. Wheeler, William F. Winn, Clifton E. Buttrick, 

1883, Josiah K. Wheeler, William F. Winn, Robert A. Andrews. 

1884, William F. Winn, James F. Wilson, Daniel A. Colburn. 

1885, James F. Wilson, Daniel A. Colburn, George G. Andrews. 

1886, Daniel A. Colburn, George G. Andrews, James G. Walker. 

1887, George G. Andrews, Edwin S. Gowing, Henry C. Brown. 

1888, Edwin S. Gowing, James F. Wilson, Daniel Gage. 

1889, James F. Wilson, Daniel Gage, David Clement. 

1890, Daniel Gage, David Clement, John M. Thompson. 
1891-'92, Philip J. Connell, James P. Howe, Charles A. Steele. 

1893, James P. Howe, Charles A. Steele, Justin M. Sleeper. 

1894, Lucien M. Tolles, Henry C. Brown, Jesse S. Weston. 

1895, Lucien M. Tolles, Jesse S. Weston, George P. Woodward. 

1896, James F. Wilson, Fred A. Coburn, Edward A. Spalding. 
1897-'98, James F. Wilson, John A. Robinson, Joseph H. LeGallee. 
1S99, James F. Wilson, John A. Robinson, George S. Steele. 

1900, James F. Wilson, John A. Robinson, Fred H. Daniels. 

1901, Arthur S. Andrews, Joseph H. LeGallee, John Wentworth. 

1902, George A. Merrill, William F. Winn, Elmer D. Clement. 
1903-'09, James P. Howe, Philip J. Connell, George F. Blood. 
1910, Jesse S. Weston, George N. Dooley, Guy A. Hopkins. 
1911-T2, Jesse S. Weston, George N. Dooley, George W. McCann. 
1913, Henry C. Brown, Frank A. Connell, John A. Robinson. 

Delegates to General Court, Etc., From 1733 to 1913 

1733. Captain Robert Fletcher and Zaccheus Love- 
well, delegates to the Massachusetts General Court to get 
the non-resident lands taxed for the support of the minis- 
try, and to get a proportion of the lands for the town, given 
to Dunstable by the proprietors or others. 



558 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

1734, March. Zaccheus Lovewell, delegate to the 
Massachusetts General Court to procure the passage of an 
Act allowing the town to assess a tax of ten shillings each, 
upon all the cattle driven into the town to pasture, in addi- 
tion to the usual rates. 

1734, June. Captain Robert Fletcher, Henry Bald- 
win, Joseph Snow and Joseph Hamblet, delegates to the 
Massachusetts General Court, to answer for the town in 
all matters relating to the petition of the people of "Natti- 
cook" to be incorporated as a separate township. 

1734, November. Captain Robert Fletcher, delegate 
to the Massachusetts General Court, to procure a grant of 
province lands to aid the town to maintain a public school. 

1741. Captain Thomas Colburn, delegate to the Mas- 
sachusetts General Court, to procure the abatement of the 
county tax, in consequence of the town being divided by 
the new province line. 

1747. John Marsh, delegate to the New Hampshire 
General Court, upon the petition of the town, for the pas- 
sage of an Act for the taxing of lands of non-residents. 

1748. Deacon Samuel Greeley and John Marsh, dele- 
gates to the New Hampshire General Court, to answer to 
a citation in relation to a petition of Josiah Cummings and 
other inhabitants of the town, to be released from paying 
taxes for the support of Rev. Mr. Merrill. 

1760, March 17. Ephraim Cummings chosen delegate 
to the New Hampshire General Couit, to make application 
to have the lands of non-residents laid under tax. 

1762, January 15. Captain Samuel Greeley chosen 
Representative for Nottingham West and Litchfield, to 
represent said towns in the General Assembly. 

Captain Samuel Greeley was re-elected March 4, 1762. 

Captain James Ford, delegate to the Provincial Con- 
vention at Exeter, January 25, 1775. 

Captain Abraham Page, delegate to the Provincial 
Convention at Exeter, May 17, 1775, and to act for the 
town for six months. 



OFFICIAL ROSTER 559 

Captain Abraham Page, delegate to the Provincial 
Convention at Exeter, April, 1775. 

John Haseltine, Jr., delegate to the County Congress 
at Amherst, 1775. 

1778, May 80. William Burns chosen delegate to the 
convention to meet at Concord, June 10, to form a new 
plan of government. 

1781. Timothy Smith chosen to represent the town 
at a convention to be held at Concord on the first Tuesday 
of June, to form a new plan of government. 

1786, October 30. Reuben Spalding chosen delegate 
to the convention "to make a general plan for Paper 
money." 

1788, January 28. Ebenezer Cummings chosen dele- 
gate "to sit in the convention at Exeter on the second 
Wednesday of February next, in order to consult and ex- 
amine the Federal Constitution." 

1850. Ethan Willoughby, delegate to the convention 
to revise the constitution. 

1877. Dana Sargent, delegate to the convention to 
revise the constitution. 

1889. David O. Smith, delegate to the convention to 
revise the constitution. 

1903. George W. Clyde, delegate to the convention 
to revise the constitution. 

1912. Henry C. Brown, delegate to the convention to 
revise the constitution. 

Representatives to the General Court from 1775 
to 1913 

Prior to October, 1780, this town was classed with 
Litchfield for the election of Representatives. 

The names of those elected from this town are given 
in the following list : 

Captain Abraham Page, 1775, '76. 

Asa Davis, 1777, '79, '92, '93, '94, '99, 1800, '01, '02, '03, '04, '05, '06, 
'07, '08. 



560 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Captain Samuel Marsh, 1784, '85, '86. 

Ebenezer Cummings, 1788. 

Colonel Joseph Greeley, 1795, *96, '97, '98, 1811, '1 

Robert Patterson, 1809, '10. 

Isaac Colburn, 1812. 

Isaac Merrill, 1813, '14, '16, '17. 

Noah Robinson, 1818, '20, '21. 

Thomas B. Wason, 1819, '28, '30, '31, '33, '35, '36. 

Caleb S. Ford, 1822, '23, '24, '25, '26, '27. 

Reuben Greeley, 1829. 

Joseph Greeley, Jr., 1837. 

David Burns, 1838, '39, '47- 

Jabez P. F. Cross, 1840, '41, '42. 

William Hadley, 1843, '44, '46. 

James Cames, 1848. 

James Pierce, 1850. 

Joseph Storer, 1851. 

William Warren, 1852, '53. 

James Emery, 1854. 

Hiram Marsh, 1855. 

Benjamin F. Chase, 1856. 

Paul Colburn, 1857. 

Luther Pollard, 1858. 

Granville Hill, 1859. 

Samuel Morrison, I860. 

William H. Chase, 1861. 

Addison Heald, 1862. 

Samuel Gowing, 1863. 

Stephen D. Greeley, 1864. 

Eli Hamblet, 1865. 

Isaac Colburn, 1866. 

Benjamin Kidder, 1867. 

Thomas Gowing, 1868. 

Daniel M. Greeley, 1869. 

Daniel T. Gage, 1870. 

Josiah K. Wheeler, 1871. 

Samuel Greeley, 1872. 

Dana Sargent, 1874, '75. 

James B. Merrill, 1876. 

Lucien M. Tolles, 1877. 

Waldo P. Walton, 1878. 

A constitutional convention assembled at Concord, De- 
cember 6, 1876. This convention proposed amendments 







HENRY C. BROWN 



OFFICIAL ROSTER 561 

changing the constitution in thirteen particulars, all of 
which except two were adopted by the people. 

These adopted amendments provided for a change in 
the time of the election of all state and county officers, 
senators and representatives to the Legislature, from the 
second Tuesday of March, annually, to the Tuesday next 
after the first Monday of November, biennially. 

The tenure of office of all the officers mentioned was 
changed from one, to two years. 

Under the revised constitution the following men have 
been elected representatives, each for the term of two 
years : 

John M. Thompson, elected November, 1878. 
Justin E. Hill, elected November, 1880. 
Nathan P. Webster, elected November, 1882. 
William F. Winn, elected November, 1884. 
Nathaniel Wentworth, elected November, 1886. 
Charles W. Spalding, elected November, 1888. 

The constitution was amended in 1889, providing that 
the Legislature should convene on the first Wednesday of 
January, biennially, instead of the first Wednesday of June. 

William W. Baker, elected in November, 1890. 
George W. Haselton, elected November, 1892- 
George G. Andrews, elected November, 1894. 
Edwin S. Gowing, elected November, 1S96. 
John J. Baker, elected November, 1898. 
Kimball Webster, elected November, 1900. 
Philip J. Connell, elected November, 1902. 
John A. Robinson, elected November, 1904. 
George H. Abbott, elected November, 1906. 
George W. Clyde, elected November, 1908. 
Jesse S. Weston, elected November, 1910. 
Edward A. Spalding, elected November, 1912. 

No Representatives were elected for 1787, '89, '90, '91, 
1832, '34, '45, '49 and '73. 

Votes for State President from 1784 to 1792, Inclusive 

1784, Meschech Weare, 45; all cast. 

1785, George Atkinson, 42; John Langdon, 5. 



562 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

1786, John Langdon, 66; all cast. 

1787, John Langdon, 86; John Sullivan, 7. 

1788, John Langdon, 33; John Sullivan, 9. 

1789, John Pickering, 78; John Sullivan. 2. 

1790, John Pickering, 88; all cast. 

1791, Josiah Bartlett, 80; all cast. 

1792, Josiah Bartlett, 72; all cast. 

Votes for Governor from 1793 to 1912, Inclusive 

1793, Josiah Bartlett, 55 ; all cast. 

1794, John Taylor Gilman, 50; all cast. 

1795, John Taylor Gilman, 67; all cast. 

1796, John Taylor Gilman, 56; all cast. 

1797, John Taylor Gilman, 57; all cast. 

1798, John Taylor Gilman, 74; all cast. 

1799, John Taylor Gilman, 49; all cast. 

1800, John Taylor Gilman, 49; Timothy Walker, 3. 

1801, John Taylor Gilman, 51; all cast. 

1802, John Taylor Gilman, 40; John Langdon, 19. 

1803, John Taylor Gilman, 31 ; John Langdon, 28. 

1804, John Langdon, 73; John Taylor Gilman, 34. 

1805, John Langdon, 72; John Taylor Gilman, 54. 

1806, John Langdon, 90; Timothy Farrow, 1. 

1807, John Langdon, 96; Justus Uakin, 1. 

1808, John Langdon, 69; Thomas Senter, 6. 

1809, Jeremiah Smith, 111; John Langdon, 50. 

1810, Jeremiah Smith, 113; John Langdon, 44. 

1811, Jeremiah Smith, 111; John Langdon, 68- 

1812, John Taylor Gilman, 112; William Plummer, 65. 

1813, John Taylor Gilman, 116; William Plummer, 80. 

1814, John Taylor Gilman, 136; William Plummer, 83. 

1815, John Taylor Gilman, 121 ; William Plummer, 86- 

1816, James Sheafe, 114; William Plummer, 97. 

1817, James Sheafe, 106; William Plummer, 103. 

1818, William Plummer, 97; Jeremiah Smith, 03. 

1819, William Hale, 74; Samuel Bell, 82. 

1820, Samuel Bell, 95; Jeremiah Mason, 70. 

1821, Samuel Bell, 103; all cast. 

1822, Samuel Bell, 131; John Foster, 1. 

1823, Levi Woodbury, 106; Samuel Dinsmore, 65. 

1824, David L. Morrill, 152 ; all cast. 

1825, David L. Morrill, 158; all cast. 

1826, David L. Morrill, 152; Benjamin Pierce, 7. 

1827, Benjamin Pierce, 81 ; David L. Morrill, 19; Jonathan Nye, 11. 



OFFICIAL ROSTER 563 

1828, John Bell, 103; Benjamin Pierce, 7G. 

1829, John Bell, 95; Benjamin Pierce, 84. 

1830, Matthew Harvey, 115; Timothy Upton, 97. 

1831, Samuel Dinsmore, 108; Ichabod Bartlett, 103. 
1S32, Samuel Dinsmore, 114; Ichabod Bartlett, 98. 

1833, Samuel Dinsmore, 135; all cast. 

1834, William Badger, 132 ; all cast. 

1835, William Badger, 116; Joseph Healey, 54. 

1836, Isaac Hill, 126; all cast. 

1837, Isaac Hill, 77; Jeremiah Smith, 1. 

1838, Isaac Hill, 139; James Wilson, Jr., 94. 

1839, John Page, 142; James Wilson, Jr., 89. 

1840, John Page, 138; Enos Stevens, 78. 

1841, John Page, 137; Enos Stevens, 79. 

1842, Henry Hubbard, 139; Enos Stevens, 59. 

1843, Henry Hubbard, 132; Anthony Colby, 57. 

1844, John H. Steele, 91; Anthony Colby, 57; Daniel Hoyt, 13. 
1S45, John H. Steele, 91; Anthony Colby, 44. 

1846, Jared W. Williams, 125; Anthony Colby, 61; Nathaniel S. 
Berry, 20. 

1847, Jared W. Williams, 141; Anthony Colby, 75; Nathaniel S. 
Berry, 17. 

1848, Jared W. Williams, 153 ; Nathaniel S. Berry, 93. 

1849, Samuel Dinsmore, 157; Levi Chamberlain, 67; Nathaniel S. 
Berry, 12. 

1850, Samuel Dinsmore, 144; Levi Chamberlain, 62 ; Nathaniel S. 
Berry, 7. 

1851, Samuel Dinsmore, 105 ; John Atwood, 104; Thomas E.Saw- 
yer, 31. 

1852, Noah Martin, 135; John Atwood, 64; Thomas E. Sawyer, 37. 

1853, Noah Martin, 135; James Bell, 42; John H. White, 36. 

1854, Nathaniel B. Baker, 135; Jared Perkins, 53; James Bell, 84. 

1855, Ralph Metcalf, 145; Nathaniel B. Baker, 119; Asa Fowler, 5. 

1856, Ralph Metcalf, 147; John S. Wells, 138; Austin F. Pike, 2. 

1857, William Haile, 152; John S. Wells, 129. 

1858, William Haile, 150; Asa P. Cate, 124. 

1859, Ichabod Goodwin, 133; Asa P. Cate, 125. 

1860, Asa P. Cate, 152; Ichabod Goodwin, 150. 

1861, George Stark, 152; Nathaniel S. Berry, 151 ; Levi Bartlett, 1. 

1862, George Stark, 135 ; Nathaniel S. Berry, 131 ; Paul J. Wheeler, 10. 

1863, Ira A. Eastman, 130; Joseph A. Gilmore, 97; Walter Harri- 
man, 53. 

1864, Joseph A. Gilmore, 149; Edward W. Harrington, 121. 

1865, Frederick Smyth, 134; Edward W. Harrington, 96. 



564 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

1866, Frederick Smyth, 130 ; John G. Sinclair, 118. 

1867, Walter Hatriman, 144; John G. Sinclair, 132. 

1868, Walter Harriman, 158; John G. Sinclair, 146. 

1869, Onslow Stearns, 139; John Bedel, 114. 

1870, Onslow Stearns, 133; John Bedel, 93 ; Samuel Flint, 31; Lo- 
renzo D. Barrows, 3. 

1871, James Pike, 147; James A. Weston, 112; Lemuel P. Cooper, 7. 

1872, Ezekiel A. Straw, 139; James A. Weston, 123; Lemuel P. 
Cooper, 14; John Blackmer, 6. 

1873, Ezekiel A. Straw, 125; James A. Weston, 103; John Black- 
mer, 4. 

1874, James A. Weston, 148; Luther McCutchins, 128; John Black- 
mer, 4. 

1875, Hiram R. Roberts, 149; Person C. Cheney, 128; Nathaniel 
White, 2. 

1876, Person C. Cheney, 148; Daniel Marcy, 142. 

1877, Daniel Marcy, 144; Benjamin F. Prescott, 130. 

1878, Frank A. McKean, 146; Benjamin F. Prescott, 137. 

Under the amended constitution the election of Gov- 
ernor and other state and county officers, was changed 
from March to November, and made biennial. 

The first election under the revised constitution took 
place November 5, 1878. 

1878, November, Natt Head, 150; Frank A. McKean, 130; Warren 
G. Brown, 10. 

1880, Charles H. Bell, 161; Frank Jones, 140. 

1882, Samuel W. Hale, 129; Martin V. B. Edgerly, 121. 

1884, Moody Currier, 161; John M. Hill, 135; George Carpenter.il; 
Larkin D. Mason, 3. 

1886, Charles H. Sawyer, 131; Thomas Cogswell, 95; Joseph Went- 
worth, 2. 

1888. David H. Goodell, 179; Charles H. Amsden, 142 ; Edgar L. 
Carr, 5. 

1890, Charles H. Amsden, 160; Hiram A. Tuttle, 136; Josiah M. 
Fletcher, 2. 

1892, Luther F. McKinney, 148; John B. Smith, 146; Edgar L. 
Carr, 6; William O. Noyes, 1. 

1894, Charles Busiel, 179; Henry O. Kent, 96; David C. Knowles, 
5 ; George D. Epps, 3. 

1896, George A. Ramsdell, 180; Henry O. Kent, 79; John C. Kerry, 
4; Gardner J. Greenleaf, 1. 



OFFICIAL ROSTER 565 

1898, Frank W. Rollins, 141 ; Charles F.Stone, 121; Augustus G 
Stevens, 4. 

1900, Chester B. Jordan, 193; Frederick E. Potter. 107; Josiah M. 
Fletcher, 5; Sumner F. Claflin, 4. 

1902, Nahum J. Bachelder, 168; Henry F. Hollis, 97; Michael 
O'Neil, 6; John C. Berry, 4. 

1904, John McLane, 201 ; Henry F. Hollis, 97; Sumner F. Claflin, 
7, David Heald, 5. 

1906, Charles M. Floyd, 135 ; Nathan C. Jameson, 99; Edmund B 
Tetley, 19; William H. McFall, 3. 

1908, Henry B. Quinby, 200; Clarence E. Carr, 104; Edmund B. 
Tetley, 5 ; Walter H. Lewis, 4; Sumner F. Claflin, 2. 

1910, Robert P. Bass, 208; Clarence E. Carr, 88; Asa Warren 
Drew, 3. 

1912, Franklin Worcester, 130; Winston Churchill, 97; Samuel D 
Felker, 75; William H. Wilkins, 6; Alvah H. Morrill, 1. 

Post-Offices and Postmasters 

Prior to 1818 there was no post-office in town, and 
mail matter for Nottingham West people went to the post- 
office at Litchfield, which had been in operation since 1804. 

A post-office by the name of Nottingham West was 
established at the Center, July 12, 1818, and Reuben 
Greeley was appointed postmaster. The name was changed 
from Nottingham West to Hudson, June 9, 1831. It was 
discontinued March 3, 1835, and re-established April 25, 
1835. 

After considerable contention between the citizens 
resident at the Center and those of the small village de- 
veloping near Taylor's Falls bridge, the office was removed 
to the latter place, September, 1853. 

It was discontinued a second time, April 13, 1868, and 
re-established September 21, 1868. Hudson post-office 
remains at the Bridge at the present time. Two mails are 
received daily — one from the Nashua post-office and one 
from the Boston & Maine railroad at the Union Station in 
Nashua. 

The rural sections of the town are well provided for 
by the rural mail service. Two routes — Nos. One and 



566 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Two— have been established from this office, while No. 
Three from Nashua passes through the town. About 
twenty families in the north-east section of the town are 
well accommodated by No. One from Derry. 

The following list of postmasters exhibits the names 
of all who have been appointed to that office in this town, 
from 1818 to 1913, with the dates of their appointments 
and the length of their terms of service. 

Reuben Greeley, served from July 12, 1818, to April 
17, 1829. 

James Tenney, served from April 17, 1829, to March 
3, 1835. 

Elbridge Dow, served from April 25, 1835, to Novem- 
ber 13, 1849. 

Reuben Greeley, served from November 13, 1849, to 
September 15, 1853. 

Thomas H. Ewins, served from September 15, 1853, 
to December 3, 1855. 

George W. Hills, served from December 3, 1855, to 
April 13, 1868. 

Willard H. Webster, served from September 21, 1868, 
to November 15, 1869. 

Nathan P. Webster, served from November 15, 1869, 
to July 24, 1878. 

Waldo P. Walton, served from July 24, 1878, to April 
14, 1879. 

Nathan P. Webster, served from April 14, 1879, to 
July 23, 1892. 

George G. Andrews, served from July 23, 1892, to Oc- 
tober 6, 1893. 

John J. Baker, served from October 6, 1893, to Octo- 
ber 18, 1897. 

George G. Andrews, served from October 18, 1897, to 
September 6, 1903. 

Charles A. Daniels, served from October 1, 1903, to 
the present, 1913. 

Paul Colburn was appointed postmaster, October 27, 
1863, but failed to qualify and enter upon the duties of 



OFFICIAL ROSTER 567 

this office, and George W. Hills was continued in office 
until 18(38, when he was succeeded by Willard H. Webster. 

A post-office, called Hudson Center, was established 
at the railroad station at that place, November 1, 1876, and 
Eli Hamblet appointed postmaster at the same time. Mr. 
Hamblet held the office to the date of his death, August 5, 
1896 — nearly twenty years. 

September 1, 1896, Henry C. Brown was appointed to 
fill the vacancy and continued as postmaster until the Hud- 
son Center office was discontinued, March 15, 1910. 

Population 

By the provincial census taken in 1767, Nottingham 
West contained a population of five hundred and eighty- 
three, with two slaves. 

By order of His Excellency, John Wentworth, Gov- 
ernor, a census of the town was taken in October, 1773, in 
which the population of Nottingham West was returned 
as follows: 

Unmarried men, from sixteen to sixty years, 41. 

Married men, from sixteen to sixty years, 88. 

Boys, sixteen years and under, 150. 

Men, sixty years and upwards, 14. 

P'emales, unmarried, 179. 

Females, married. 100. 

Widows, 16. 

Male slaves, 2. 

Female slaves, 2. 

Total population, 592. 

In September, 1775, a census was taken by order of 
the New Hampshire Convention, when the town was cred- 
ited with six hundred and forty-nine inhabitants. There 
were twenty-two men in the army and four slaves. 

The first census taken by the United States was in 
1790, since when an enumeration has been made every de- 



568 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

cennial. In these reports the population has been given 
out as follows: 

1st census, 1790, 1,064. 7th census, 1850, 1,312. 

2d census, 1800, 1,267. 8th census, 1860, 1,222. 

3d census, 1810, 1,376. 9th census, 1870, 1,066. 

4th census, 1820, 1,227. 10th census, 1880, 1,045. 

5th census, 1830, 1,282. 11th census, 1890, 1,092. 

6th census, 1840, 1,144. 12th census, 1900, 1,261. 
13th census, 1910, 1,344. 




GEORGE G. ANDREWS 



CHAPTER XLI 

Personal Sketches 
George G. Andrews 

Levi Andrews settled in Nottingham West, now Hud- 
son, with his wife, Bridget, in 1778. They had at least six 
children: Letitia, Joel, Levi, James, Thomas and Hannah. 
All, with the exception of Hannah, were born previous to 
their settlement in this town. 

Thomas, the fourth son and fifth child, was born May 

2, 1771. He married, first, Hannah . They had six 

children: Lucinda, Nathan, Levi, Allen, Dustin and Dan- 
iel. His wife, Hannah, died March 17, 1800. He married, 
second, Prisia Hutchinson. They had four children: Rob- 
ert, Gilman, Hannah and Fanny. 

Gilman Andrews was born in Hudson, December 26, 
1806. He married in Derry, N. H., September 9, 1834, 
Sophia J. Senter, daughter of Charles and Harriet (Greeley) 
Senter, born in Hillsboro, N. H., May 14, 1816, a grand- 
daughter of Dea. Moses and Hannah Greeley. They had 
three children: Charles T., born May 18, 1837; Mary J. 
born April 25, 1839; and George Gilman, born April 29, 
1847. Sophia J., wife of Gilman, died June 20, 1860. He 
married, second, Hannah Goodspeed-Cross, born in Litch- 
field, January 14, 1810. She died July 28, 1865. Gilman 
Andrews died May 25, 1886. 

George Gilman Andrews was a native, and life-long 
resident of Hudson. He was born on the Andrews home- 
stead on "Hills Row," so called. The first forty years of 
his life were passed there. In 1887, he built a house on 
Derry road in Hudson, near Taylor's Falls bridge, and re- 
sided there until his death, September 6, 1908, though his 
places of business for some years were in Boston and 
Nashua. 

569 



570 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

In 1892, he purchased of Nathan P. Webster the gen- 
eral store on Postoffice square in Hudson, remaining in 
that business until the time of his death. He was also 
postmaster, had held all the offices in the gift of his town, 
filled them faithfully, and was always keenly alive to any- 
thing which concerned Hudson. He was a man of decided 
opinions, fearless in their expression, and a man of sterling 
integrity. He married, November 9, 1870, Anabel C. Fol- 
lansbee, daughter of Franklin G. and Ardelle (Morse) Fol- 
lansbee, born in Manchester, May 28, 1849. They had one 
child, Maude Sophia, born in Hudson, August 28, 1871. 

John Julian Baker 

John Julian Baker, son of John H. and Lovisa U. 
(Webster) Baker, was born in Pembroke, N. H., August 
21, 1856. His parents moved to Hudson when he was a 
child and he was educated in the public schools here, 
Nashua Literary Institute, and Pembroke Academy. 

In 1870, he entered the employ of Nathan P. Webster 
as clerk, continuing until 1885, when he was appointed to 
the United States railway mail service running between 
Boston and Keene, N. H., and was in this service four 
years. In 1890, he, with his brother, William W. Baker, 
established a grocery and general store at Hudson Bridge. 

He served as postmaster from October 6, 1893, to 
October 18, 1897. At present he is Hudson's town clerk, 
having been elected thirteen years, and for twelve years he 
has been town treasurer. He represented the town in the 
legislature in 1899. Mr. Baker is an Odd Fellow and be- 
longs to Granite Lodge, No. 1, of Nashua. 

William Wallace Baker 

William W. Baker, the younger son of John Henry 
and Lovisa U. Baker, was born in Hudson, September 21, 
1865. He received his education at the public schools in 
his native town and at McGaw Institute at Reed's Ferry. 




WILLIAM W. BAKER 



PERSONAL SKETCHES 571 

In 1885, when twenty years of age, he entered the em- 
ploy of his late uncle, Nathan P. Webster, as clerk in his 
store at the Bridge, and was soon after appointed assistant 
postmaster, which position he held for five years, or until 
October 15, 1890, when he and his elder brother, John J. 
Baker, entered into a copartnership in the grocery, meat 
and grain business at Hudson Bridge. 

This business he has pursued constantly except few 
and short intervals, to the present time. He was elected 
to the state Legislature as a Representative from Hudson 
in November, 1890. He belongs to no secret or fraternal 
orders. In politics he has always been a clean-cut Demo- 
crat, ever true to his convictions. 

On December 16, 1899, he was united in marriage with 
Sarah L. Oldall, daughter of Sidney F. Oldall and Eliza- 
beth Brownlee Oldall, born in Montreal, Que. 

There have been born to them three children, all boys, 
and all living at this writing, 1913: John E., born Febru- 
ary 25, 1901; Sidney F., born May 25, 1905 ; Wallace G., 
born February 8, 1907. 

Henry C. Brown 

Henry C. Brown, son of Darwin and Rhoda M. Wood- 
ward, was born in Delton, Sauk County, Wis., February 
25, 1859. His father was county surveyor of Sauk County 
at the time of his death, September 3, 1862. Henry was 
adopted by John D. and Eliza W. Brown, of Nashua, N. 
H., a little later. 

He left Nashua with his father and mother in 1867, 
first going to Berea, O., and two years later they settled 
on a farm in Raisinville, Michigan. In 1882, the elder Mr. 
Brown disposed of his farm in Michigan and returned with 
his family to Nashua. 

Mr. Brown acquired his education at the public schools 
at Nashua, and at Raisinville. He soon after entered the 
service of the Worcester and Nashua railroad. 



572 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

He married, October 9, 1883, Clara J. Bryant, of Iras- 
burg, Vt. She is a descendant of Captain Jonas and Hul- 
dah (Putnam) Kidder. Captain Kidder was born in Hud- 
son, November 16, 1743, and died November 1, 1837, aged 
94, and was buried in the Hills Farms cemetery. 

By reason of ill health, in 1884, Mr. Brown left the 
employ of the railroad and spent several months in Michi- 
gan. After his return he entered the employ of the Nashua 
Manufacturing Company for a time, but settled at Hudson 
Center with his father in April, 1886. His father died 
September 29, 1900, aged 73 years and 7 months. His 
mother died April 7, 1910, aged 94 years and 9 months. 
Both were born in Bridgewater, N. H. 

Mr. Brown had a son, Freddie L., born in Nashua, 
February 20, 1886, and died in Irasburg, Vt., September 
28, 1888, and one daughter, Ina L., born October 6, 1889. 
She married, May 12, 1908, Howard A., son of Arthur S. 
and Linnie (Butler) Andrews, born in Hudson, February 
8, 1883. 

Mr. Brown was elected a member of the board of 
selectmen for the years 1887 and 1893. He was also elected 
to the board of education in 1892. In all, he has served 
more than ten years in that capacity. In 1913, he was 
elected as chairman of the board of selectmen by the 
joint ballots of the two principal parties. In 1908, he was 
chairman of a committee to build the new school building at 
Hudson Center. He was elected to the state constitutional 
convention at Concord in 1912, and he has always been a 
Republican. He received the appointment of deputy sheriff 
for Hillsboro County in 1904, and still retains the office. He 
has performed the duties of moderator of town meetings for 
several years. He has been station agent for the Boston 
& Maine railroad at Hudson Center since 1896. He was 
postmaster at Hudson Center from June, 1896, until the 
discontinuance of the office in 1910. He has always taken 
a deep interest in the affairs of the town, and also in the 
welfare of the schools. 







WILLIS P. CUMMINGS 



PERSONAL SKETCHES 57B 

Mr. Brown is a descendant of Deliverance and Abigail 
Woodward, who were among the first settlers of Hanover, 
N. H., and one of the grantees. He has been a member 
of Granite Lodge, No. 1, L O. O. F., since 1895. 

Willis P. Cummings 

Willis P. Cummings, the eldest son and child of Hiram 
and Abby (Clark) Cummings, was born in Lowell, Mass., 
January 27, 1850, his parents moving to Hudson when he 
was six years of age. 

His education was acquired at the public schools in 
Lowell and Hudson, and at the Nashua Literary Institute. 
When nearly twenty years of age, in November, 1869, soon 
after the railroad was completed to the Pacific coast, he 
went to California, at the earnest solicitation of his uncle, 
John B. Clark, formerly of Lyndeboro, N. H., who at that 
time was heavily interested in the business of sheep-raising 
in the San Joaquin Valley, Mercedes County, Cal. Mr. 
Clark then herded, on an average, 10,000 sheep in that 
valley, and desired the assistance of young Mr. Cummings, 
to aid him in the supervision of the difficult and compli- 
cated business. He remained in the employ of Mr. Clark 
about two years, at the end of which time he returned 
home. After his return, Mr. Cummings established the 
carpenter and building business at North Chelmsford, 
Mass. 

He married, March, 1873, Hattie D., daughter of Hart- 
well and Sarah (Blood) Lawrence, born in Merrimack, N. 
H., March 21, 1851. Their daughter, Bertha Ella, was 
born in North Chelmsford, March 12, 1875. 

He removed to Hudson, January 1, 1876. His uncle, 
John B. Clark, having died in 1876, at the request of his 
executor, Mr. Cummings went to California a second time, 
in February, 1877, to assist in the settlement of the estate, 
at which he was employed about three months, when he 
returned to Hudson. 



574 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

His wife, Hattie D., died February 2, 1885, and he 
married, second, November 11, 1885, Frances M., daughter 
of David and Hannah M. (Hall) Clement, born in Hudson, 
November 14, 1857. 

Mr. Cummings continued in the business of building, 
with success, until September, 1880, when he established 
the wheelwright and carriage business near the bridge in 
Hudson. A year later, in 1881, he and his brother, Charles 
E. Cummings, entered into a copartnership, under the firm 
name of Cummings Brothers, since which time they have 
constantly done a large carriage business. 

Mr. Cummings was naturally a musician. He com- 
menced playing in the band in 1861, and was connected 
with the band as a musician for more than forty-five years, 
nine years of which he was drum major of the Regimental 
Band. 

He is a charter member of Hudson Lodge, No. 94, In- 
dependent Order of Odd Fellows, and he has filled all the 
offices in the lodge. He is also a prominent member of 
Hudson Grange, No. 11, Patrons of Husbandry. 

Charles E. Cummings 

Charles E. Cummings, the youngest son of Hiram and 
Abby (Clark) Cummings, was born in Hudson, November 
19, 1862. He received his education at the public schools 
of his native town, and at the Nashua Literary Institute 
and at McGaw Institute at Reed's Ferry, in Merrimack, 
N. H. 

Before he attained his majority, in 1881, he entered 
into a partnership with his brother, Willis P. Cummings, in 
the wheelwright and carriage business, which they have 
steadily pursued for thirty-one years. 

He married, September 30, 1896, Laura Belle, daugh- 
ter of Augustus and Lucy E. (Chase) Blodgett, born in 
Hudson, October 10, 1861. 

He is a member of Hudson Lodge, No. 94, I. O. O. F., 
of Hudson, and has filled all the offices in the lodge. 



personal sketches 575 

Deacon Moses Greeley 

Deacon Moses Greeley, (Joseph, Benjamin, Joseph, 
Andrew, the emigrant, 1635) was born in Haverhill, Mass., 
November 29, 1764, and died in Hudson, N. H., August 
15, 1848. He was married, first, in Hudson, to his cousin, 
Hannah Greeley, daughter of Ezekiel, (Benjamin, Joseph, 
Andrew, the emigrant, 1635.) She was born October 1, 
1768, and died in Hudson, February 17, 1793, leaving two 
daughters, Harriet and Sophia. 

He married, second, Mary Derby, born in Acton, 
Mass., January 27, 1773, and died in Hudson, N. H., Sep- 
tember 25, 1856. She was the daughter of Corporal Thomas 
Derby, (John, Richard, Roger, the emigrant), and Lucy 
(Brewer) Derby, daughter of Captain Daniel Brewer 
(French and Indian War), Lieutenant John (Colonial Wars) 
and John the emigrant, 1642. 

Mary's mother, Lucy (Brewer) Derby, was the woman 
who sheared her sheep, spun the wool, wove the cloth, 
colored it with butternut bark, made the uniform and car- 
ried it to her husband, then in temporary camp, and told 
him to go and fight for his country. He went, and was 
wounded at the battle of White Plains, October 28, 1776, 
and died the next day. 

Mary was the mother of ten children, five boys and 
five girls. She was a woman of strong character, a faithful 
wife and a highly regarded member of the Baptist church 
in Hudson. 

Deacon Moses Greeley was a blacksmith and farmer, 
and was well to do for those days, being a large land owner 
and a man of great integrity. He was highway surveyor 
in 1800, and selectman, 1811-1816. He was deacon of the 
Baptist church, and gave it the first bell hung in the town 
of Hudson. His will, made December 13, 1843, was pro- 
bated September 5, 1848. (Nashua Probate Vol. LVII, 
Page 32). 



576 HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Reuben Greeley 

Reuben Greeley, eldest child of Deacon Moses and 
Mary (Derby) Greeley, was born in Nottingham West, 
now Hudson, July 8, 1794, and was educated in the public 
schools of his native town. He married, November 27, 
1817, Joanna C. Merrill, daughter of Rev. Daniel and Su- 
sanna (Gale) Merrill, born in Sedgwick, Maine, September, 
1795. They had twelve children, four of whom died young. 
Those that reached manhood and womanhood were: Ado- 
niram Judson, born September 10, 1818; Susan M., born 
December 21, 1819; Daniel Merrill, born October 12, 1821; 
Moses R., born August 13, 1826; Henry Clay, born Octo- 
ber 15, 1830; Mary Hannah, born October 31, 1832; Ann 
E., born January 23, 1836, died July 18, 1857; Frances 
Victoria, born February 4, 1839. 

Mr. Greeley was a member of the board of selectmen 
for 1824-'26-'28 and 1835-'37, and was chairman of the board 
for five of the seven years. He was town clerk for 1827 to 
1837, eleven years, and he represented the town of Not- 
tingham West in the Legislature for 1829. He was one of 
the prime movers in having its name changed to Hudson, 
in 1830. 

Appointed postmaster of Nottingham West, when the 
office was first established at the Center, July 12, 1818, he 
filled the office until April 17, 1829, and again became 
postmaster from November 13, 1849, to September 15, 
1853. His first commission, as a Justice of the Peace for 
the County of Hillsborough, was issued January 19, 1819, 
and continued until his decease. Mr. Greeley performed 
quite a large amount of justice business in this town. He 
drew and executed numerous deeds, wills, mortgages, agree- 
ments and other legal papers. He was careful in the tran- 
saction of all affairs, and his written documents were always 
drawn with great precision. He also did a large amount of 
probate business. He owned a large farm at the Center 



PERSONAL SKETCHES 577 

and was a good farmer. In the Baptist church he was very 
prominent. Previously a Whig in politics, he affiliated him- 
self with the Republican party in 1855. 

Mr. Greeley was one of the most intellectual of the 
town's former residents, and his broad experience gave him 
great prestige in the transaction of business among its in- 
habitants for many years. He died in Hudson, March 30, 
1863, aged 68 years and 8 months. His wife, Joanna C. 
M. Greeley, died June 20, 1890, aged 94 years and 4 months. 

Alden Hills 

James Hills, (Samuel, Joseph, the emigrant) who was 
born in Newbury, Mass., February 25, 1697, was the young- 
est of the three brothers who settled, when he was a young 
man, at Hills' garrison, which was then in Dunstable. 

In 1723, he sold all his interest in the garrison place in 
Dunstable, and returned to his native town of Newbury, 
where he married, December 26, 1723, Abigail, daughter of 
Daniel and Esther Merrill, of Newbury. He continued to 
reside in Newbury, until 1737, when he returned with his 
family and settled on "Hills Row," then in Litchfield, on 
the farm later, of Col. William Hills, now owned by Charles 
W. Hills. They had eight children, four boys and four girls, 
the youngest of whom was Elijah, born in Litchfield, March 
15, 1738. 

Ensign Elijah Hills married, December 23, 1762, Miri- 
am, daughter of Joseph and Hannah (Proctor) Kidder, and 
settled on the old Hills homestead then in Nottingham 
West. He died January 3, 1828; his wife, Miriam, died 
August 14, 1822. They had eight children, three boys and 
five girls. Elijah Hills, the youngest, was born in Notting- 
ham West, December 14, 1778, and died March 10, 1833. 
He married Betsey, daughter of Henry and Sarah Tarbox, 
born in Nottingham West, January 26, 1782. She died 
July 17, 1857. They had seven children: Parker, Kim- 
ball, Thomas, Alden, Eliza, Warren and Edwin P. 



578 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Alden Hills, born on the old homestead, September 
10, 1807, married, in Plymouth, N. H., November 27, 1834, 
Nancy Currier Kimball, daughter of Joseph and Nancy 
(Currier) Kimball, born in Plymouth, January 17, 1814. 
Alden Hills died September 9, 1891. Nancy, his wife, died 
January 6, 1910. 

Alden Hills resided on the old homestead of his father 
and grandfather, which was a large and productive farm. 
He was one of the selectmen of Hudson for 1863 and 1864, 
and collector of taxes for several years, and held other of- 
fices of honor and trust. He never sought preferment. 
His life's work was the tilling of the soil. He was a grand 
specimen of one of "nature's noblemen" — an honest man. 

Hiram Marsh 

George Marsh, with his wife, Elizabeth, emigrated 
from Norfolk County, England, in 1635, and settled in 
Hingham, Mass., in June of that year. They had four 
children, two sons and two daughters, all born in England. 

Their second son and third child, Onesiphorus Marsh, 
was born in England in 1630, and married Hannah Cutler 
of Hingham. He removed to Haverhill about 1674. They 
had seven children, three sons and four daughters, all born 
in Hingham. His wife, Hannah, died March 17, 1686. He 
died in Bradford, May 15, 1713, aged 83 years. 

John Marsh, the second son and fourth child of One- 
siphorus and Hannah (Cutler) Marsh, born in Hingham, 
August 19, 1663, married, November 16, 1688, Lydia, 
daughter of Robert and Ann (Grant) Emerson, born Au- 
gust 11, 1667. He lived on Marsh Hill, Haverhill, Mass. 
Lydia died February 11, 1720. John Marsh died Novem- 
ber 24, 1733. They had eight children, four sons and four 
daughters. 

John Marsh, the oldest son and third child of John 
and Lydia (Emerson) Marsh, was born in Haverhill, Au- 
gust 19, 1693. He was married, December 8, 1718, to Sa- 



PERSONAL SKETCHES 579 

rah Severance of Kingston, N. H., born in 1698. They 
lived for a time in Haverhill, but removed to Londonderry 
and later to Nottingham, now Hudson. They had five 
children, three sons and two daughters. John Marsh died 
November 20, 1777. Sarah, his wife, died January 28, 1786. 

Thomas Marsh, the oldest son and child of John and 
Sarah (Severance) Marsh, was bornin Haverhill, Decem- 
ber 14, 1719. He married, November 17, 1741-'44, Ann, 
daughter of Benjamin and Ruth (Whittier) Greeley, of Ha- 
verhill, born February 15, 1724. He settled in Nottingham, 
now Hudson, as early as 1741; at first on "Hills Row," and 
later on the farm afterwards owned by his grandson, Hiram 
Marsh. His wife, Ann, died April 19, 1770; he died July 
3, 1808. They had ten children, six sons and four daugh- 
ters, all born in Nottingham, or Nottingham West. 

Jonathan Marsh, the fifth son and seventh child of 
Thomas and Ann (Greeley) Marsh, born in Nottingham 
West, March 4, 1759, and married, June 27, 1785, Eliza- 
beth, daughter of Enoch and Sarah (Little) Sawyer, born 
in Hampstead, N. H., June 29, 1767. He died October 1, 
1830. His wife died April 26, 1855. They had ten chil- 
dren, six sons and four daughters. 

Hiram Marsh, the fifth son and seventh child of Jona- 
than and Sarah (Sawyer) Marsh, was born in Nottingham 
West, November 9, 1800. He married, November 27, 1828, 
Olivia, daughter of John and Esther (Hadley) Goodspeed, 
born May 9, 1810. He was a life-long resident on the farm 
settled and improved by his grandfather, Thomas Marsh, 
and occupied later by his father, Jonathan. He was a fru- 
gal, industrious husbandman and farmer, a valued townsman 
and a kind husband and father. When a young man, he 
united with the Baptist church and remained a consistent 
member until his death. 

He was a member of the board of selectmen in 1854 
and 1860, and represented his town in the Legislature of 
the state in 1855. He was chosen chairman of a commit- 
tee of three, October 14, 1861, to relieve the families and 



580 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

dependents of soldiers serving in the army, and continued 
to occupy that position to the end of the war. Many other 
offices of honor and trust were filled by him. He died 
January 25, 1879. Olivia (Goodspeed) Marsh died May 24, 
1899. 

Walter H. Marsh 

Walter Hiram Marsh was born in Hudson, December 
6, 1852, the youngest of nine children of Hiram and Olivia 
(Goodspeed) Marsh. He married, January 8, 1874, Lizzie 

5. daughter of Salem and Betsey Stanley (Shaw) Wilder, 
born July 28, 1853. She died October 2, 1881. 

They had four children: Walter Wilder, Hiram Stan- 
ley, (born in Hudson), Marion and Elizabeth. He married 
second, June 11, 1885, Addie Elizabeth, daughter of John 
C. and Elizabeth (True) Mason, of Winchester, Mass. 
Their children were Edith and John Leland. 

At an early age Mr. Marsh engaged in business in 
Boston. Since 1876, he has been connected with the well- 
known publishing house, the Butterick Publishing Com- 
pany of New York, and for the past twenty-one years has 
acted as their New England manager and general agent. 
For thirty years he was a resident of Winchester. In 
1900, he came into possession of the Marsh homestead 
(first settled by his great grandfather, Thomas Marsh), 
where he now resides. 

James B. Merrill 

James B. Merrill, son of Deacon Benjamin and Sarah 
(Plummer) Merrill, and great grandson of Rev. Nathaniel 
Merrill, the first minister settled in this town, November 
30, 1737, was born in Nottingham West, now Hudson, May 

6, 1824. 

Mr. Merrill received his education at the public schools 
in his native town. He worked with his father on the 
farm until he became twenty-one years of age. He then 




WALTER H. MARSH 



PERSONAL SKETCHES 5S1 

learned the carpenter's trade and pursued the calling of 
carpenter and builder in Lowell, Nashua, Hudson and else- 
where for many years. Later in life he was mostly en- 
gaged in farming. 

He married, January 22, 1857, Persis A., daughter of 
William and Persis G, (Moore) Winn, born in Hudson, June 
10, 1832. The children from this union were Annie Ger- 
trude, James Everett and George A. 

Mr. Merrill early affiliated himself with the Republican 
party at its organization in Hudson in 1855, and was ever 
after a staunch Republican. He took a deep interest in 
all the affairs relating to the town of Hudson. He repre- 
sented the town in the Legislature in 1876,' and was one of 
the board of selectmen of the town in 1870 to 1872, being 
chairman of the board the last year. He was town clerk 
for twelve years, 1873, 1880 and to 1890, and was also town 
treasurer for thirteen years. 

He was one of the committee of five chosen on the 
part of the town of Hudson, in 1881, to construct, with the 
city of Nashua, a new bridge across the Merrimack river, 
to replace the old one. He was a charter member of Hud- 
son Grange, No. 11, and its first secretary, and held the of- 
fice of Master. 

In his religious preferences Mr. Merrill was a Congre- 
gationalism and was a devoted member of that church in 
Hudson. He stood high in the regard and esteem of his 
fellow townsmen, and was faithful in the discharge of all 
his various duties, honest and conscientious in his dealings, 
and a worthy representative of a noble great grandsire, Rev. 
Nathaniel Merrill. 

James B. Merrill died in Hudson, May 9, 1901. Persis 
A. Merrill died January 3, 1905. 

John A. Robinson 

John Abner Robinson was born in Hudson, N. H., 
December 28, 1863. He married, March 5, 1890, Julia 



582 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Anna Webster, born October 26, 1867, the daughter of 
Kimball and Abiah (Cutter) Webster. They have no chil- 
dren. Mr. Robinson served the town as selectman in 1897 
to 1900, and was again elected to that office at the last an- 
nual town meeting, March 11, 1913. He was a member of 
the Legislature from this town for the term of 1905. 

Mr. Robinson is a descendant of several of the older 
families of Hudson. On the maternal side are the Hasel- 
ton, Haseltine, Smith and Page families. Abraham Page, 
whose name appears in the ancient records, was his great, 
great, great, great grandfather. 

On the paternal side his ancestor, Simeon Robinson, 
became a resident of Hudson by the annexation of a part 
of Londonderry to Nottingham West, in 1778, as one of 
the new corners between the two towns was established 
"at a large Black Oak tree marked, standing about 4 rods 
East of Simeon Robinson's house." This was a little west 
of, but near the Tvviss road. The birthplace of Simeon or 
the date of his settlement in Londonderry is not known. 
He was born, probably, in 1744, as the record of his death 
is given as November 22, 1820, aged 76 years. He settled 
on the farm near Robinson pond in Hudson, about 1786. 
This farm has since then continued in the Robinson family. 

Simeon married, first, Susannah Tarbox, by whom he 
had four sons, Daniel, David, Isaac and Noah, and two 
daughters, Hannah and Susan. 

David, born March 4, 1775; married, Dceember 13, 
1798, Martha Anderson, born October 13, 1774. He died 
December 12, 1864; she died February 28, 1860. Their 
children were: Pat^y, David, John Anderson, Anna Da- 
vidson, Isaac, who died young, and Louisa. 

John Anderson, born September 16, 1802; married, 
December 8, 1836, Marinda Caldwell, born May 16, 1810. 
He died August 14, 1865; she died January 23, 1897. 
Their children were: Alphonzo, Sarah Jane, Henry C. 
and Angelah, who died young. 

Alphonzo, born November 5, 1837; married, December 
23, 1862, Louisa Ann Haselton, born November 8, 1838. 



PERSONAL SKETCHES 583 

Their children were: John Abner, Clarence Luther, who 
died young, and Hattie Louisa, who died February 27, 
1912. 

Reuben Spalding 

Ebenezer Spalding, an early resident on a part of the 
Joseph Hills farm before Nottingham received its charter 
from Massachusetts, was a son of Edward, born in Chelms- 
ford, January 13, 1683. 

He had a son, Reuben, born July 26, 1728. In the 
Spalding family he was the first of four in a direct line to 
bear the name, and all were born here. 

The second Reuben was born September 6, 1761, and 
was a life-long resident of Hudson. He married Susanna 
Pierce, October 10, 1780. 

Their son Reuben was born March 2, 1781. He mar- 
ried Hannah Barrett, daughter of Isaac and Susanna (Page) 
Barrett of this town. Reuben, the subject of this sketch, 
was born July 1, 1811. He grew to manhood in Hudson 
and Londonderry, and acquired his education in the public 
schools. At the age of nineteen he began to learn the car- 
penter trade, which he subsequently followed as a journey- 
man for several years. He was afterwards employed for 
fourteen years at the Jackson machine shop in Nashua, as 
a pattern maker, and worked in the same capacity in the 
railroad shops at Lowell and Nashua for twenty-one years. 
In 1859, he purchased the old Underwood place in Hudson, 
which contained one hundred and twenty acres, and was 
one of the most fertile and productive farms in town. He 
took great pleasure in tilling this farm, and was an in- 
dustrious and progressive farmer until his death. He mar- 
ried, January 17, 1839, Emily Brooks, of Townsend, Mass. 

Two children sprung from this marriage: Reuben 
Leander, born in Nashua, February 3, 1844, and George E., 
born July 20, 1848, who died in infancy. Emily, his wife, 
died July 26, 1849. He married, October 15, 1851, Sarah 
E. Laton, daughter of Captain Thomas Laton, of Nashua. 



584 HISTORY OF HUDSON" 

There were children, also, of this marriage: Charles 
L., born in Nashua, April 5, 1854, and Sarah Maria, bom 
July 12, 1858. 

Reuben L., married, January 1, 1866, Abbie E., daugh- 
ter of Amos and Electa S. Winn of Hudson. They had two 
children: Edward A., born May 20, 1869, and George, 
who died in infancy. His wife died October 20, 1875. De- 
cember 18, 1879, he married Mary E., daughter of Enoch 
and Elizabeth (Bennett) Dickerson. The result of this 
union was a daughter, Emily M., born February 18, 1882. 

Edward A. Spalding married, October 27, 1888, Anna 
E. Sanders, of Washington, Vt., and resides in Hudson. 
They have one child, Ned, be n May 26, 1910. 

Charles L. Spalding married, January 7, 1886, Sarah 
B,, daughter of William T. and Lucy A., (Byam) Merrill, 
born in Hudson, January 13, 1863. They have two chil- 
dren: Helen C, born in Hudson, January 10, 1887, and 
Harold M., born July 20, 1889. They live in Hudson. 

Sarah Maria married, June 23, 1892, John C. Groves, 
son of Robert and Elizabeth Groves, of Hudson. They 
settled on the old homestead in Hudson, and have two sons, 
Reuben Spalding, born July 28, 1893, and Robert Laton, 
born July 20, 1895. 

Mr. Spalding was a Democrat politically, but never 
sought office; yet he was a member of the board of select- 
men in Hudson for two years, 1874 and 1875. He attended 
the Episcopal church. He died October 4, 1901, aged 90 
years. His wife, Sarah E., died June 3, 1898, aged 79. 

He was an honor to his native town while he lived, 
and was a worthy exponent of this one among the most 
ancient and honored families of Hudson. 

Kimball Webster 

(I), John Webster came from Ipswich, Suffolk Coun- 
ty, England, to Ipswich, Mass., where he was made a free- 
man in 1635. He died about 1646, and his family after- 




REUBEN SPALDING 



PERSONAL SKETCHES 585 

wards removed to Newbury. His wife was Mary Shats- 
well. They had four sons and four daughters, as follows: 
Mary, John, born in 1633, Hannah, Abigail, Stephen, Eliz- 
abeth, Israel and Nathan. On October 29, 1650, Mary, the 
widow of John Webster, married John Emery of Newbury, 
and died April 28, 1694. 

Hannah Webster, second daughter and third child of 
John and Mary Shatswell Webster, married, April 1, 1657, 
Michael Emerson, and they settled in Haverhill, Mass. 
They had fifteen children, the oldest of whom was Hannah, 
born December 23, 1657, who married, December 3, 1677, 
Thomas Duston. She was the famous Indian heroine. 

(II). Stephen, second son and fifth child of John and 
Mary (Shatswell) Webster, was born in Ipswich, Mass., 
removed to Newbury, and from there to Haverhill in 1653. 
He was a tailor by trade, a man of influence, and was one 
of the selectmen in 1669. He married, first, March 24, 
1663, Hannah, daughter of John Ayer, of Salisbury, who 
died June 2, 1676. He married, second, May 26, 1678, 
Widow Judith Brown. He died August 10, 1694. His 
children, all by his first wife, were: Hannah, John, Mary, 
Stephen, Nathan and Abigail. 

(III). Stephen, second son and fourth child of Ste- 
phen and Hannah (Ayer) Webster, was born in Haverhill, 
January 1, 1672, and died March 9, 1748, aged seventy-six. 
He was one of eight men in the garrison of John Webster, 
March, 1690. He married Widow Mary Cook. They had 
six children: Samuel, John, Stephen, William, Ebenezer 
and Mary. 

(IV). Ebenezer, fifth son and child of Stephen and 
Mary (Cook) Webster, was born in Haverhill, September 
20, 1711. He married, March 1, 1737, Mehitable, daughter 
of Jonathan and Lydia (Day) Kimball, of Bradford, Mass. 
Their children were: Lydia, Isaac, Mary, Ebenezer, Jona- 
than, Stephen, Moses and John. 

(V). Ebenezer, fourth child and second son of Eben- 
ezer and Mehitable (Kimball) Webster, was born in Haver- 



586 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

hill, February 1, 1744, and died in Pelham, N. H , March 
14, 1823. He was married three times and settled in Pel- 
ham. He married in Pelham, November 29, 1770, Rebecca 
Baldwin, probably of Pelham. They had three children: 
Sarah, Ebenezer and Rebecca, the last of whom died young. 
His wife, Rebecca, died, and he married, second, in Pel- 
ham, December 31, 1775, Martha Barker. She died with- 
out issue, and he married, third, in Salem, N. H., October 
14, 1778, Elizabeth Bradford of Salem, formerly of Bev- 
erly, Mass., daughter of Captain Simon and Eunice (War- 
ren) Bradford, born in Beverly, September 6, 1754. She 
died in Amherst, N. H., March 27, 1844 They had nine 
children, all born in Pelham: Rebecca, Nancy, Moses, 
Simon, Isaac, Asa, John, Benjamin and Betsey. 

Ebenezer Webster was a quiet, industrious farmer in 
Pelham, residing just south of North, or White's pond, 
where he spent all his life after his marriage. 

(VI). John, seventh child and fifth son of Ebenezer 
and Elizabeth (Bradford) Webster, was born in Pelham, 
December 25, 1791. He married, August 22, 1815, Han- 
nah, daughter of Eleazer and Sarah (Hale) Cummings, born 
in Nottingham West, now Hudson, August 4, 1794. She 
was a great granddaughter of Deacon Henry and Mary 
(Bartlett) Hale, and also a great granddaughter of Nathan- 
iel and Ann (Worm) Hills, of Hills' Garrison, both of Not- 
tingham West. 

John resided upon the old homestead in Pelham, ex- 
cepting one year in Meredith, 1819, and one year in Hud- 
son, 1834, until 1841, when he sold his farm in Pelham and 
removed to Amherst, N. H., where he remained until 1846, 
when he returned to Hudson, and bought a farm on Bush 
hill, where he lived for twenty years, and then made his 
home with his daughters, Mrs. Titcomb and Mrs. Baker, 
until his death, March 1, 1883. Mr. Webster was a man of 
great energy and unremitting industry, by which he had 
been able to provide for his large family of children, and 
insure for himself a comfortable support in his old age. He 



PERSONAL SKETCHES 587 

was drafted in the war of 1812, and served in Captain 
Haynes' company at Portsmouth, where he obtained an 
honorable discharge. 

He was a loyal citizen, a good husband and father, an 
attentive son, supporting his aged parents until their death, 
and doing his duty faithfully in every position. For many 
years he was universally called "Honest John Webster." 

Mrs. Hannah (Cummings) Webster performed faith- 
fully her part in life as wife, mother and Christian. Indus- 
trious and frugal, she cared for her large family of children, 
physically, morally and religiously, and her children learned 
from day to day by precept and example. She united with 
the Congregational church in Pelham, and was an esteemed 
member of other churches of the same denomination where- 
ever she resided. She died in Hudson, February 3, 1871. 

The children of John and Hannah (Cummings) Web- 
ster were: Elizabeth B., married Warren Blodgett; Moses; 
Sally Hale, married Simeon Titcomb; Eleazer C, died 
young; Lovisa U., married John H. Baker; Lucy Ann, 
married Daniel B. Cluff ; Kimball; Hannah Jane, died un- 
married; John C; Nathan P.; Willard H.; Milton E , died 
young; and Orrin P. 

(VII). Kimball, seventh child and third son of John 
and Hannah (Cummings) Webster, was born in Pelham, 
November 2, 1828. His education was acquired at the 
common schools of Pelham and Hudson. He grew up a 
farmer boy inured to hard work, and prepared for the toil 
and labor that have since been his lot. He also worked 
upon the quarries in Pelham in 1847 and 1848. 

He was one of the California pioneers of "forty-nine." 
April 17, 1849, six months before attaining his majority, 
after hearing of the great gold discovery in California, he 
left home and went to Independence, Missouri, where with 
a company of twenty-eight men fitted out with pack mules 
and horses, he traveled over the trail to California, arriving 
in the Sacramento valley October 13, after spending six 
months on the way, and experiencing many hardships. He 



088 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

engaged in mining on the Feather and Yuba rivers, and in 
June, 1851, went to Oregon, then a territory, as was also 
California. 

He was engaged upon the surveys of the public lands 
in Oregon, and in the spring of 1852, was commissioned a 
deputy surveyor. His work was in the Willamette and 
Umpqua valleys. He returned home by the way of the 
Isthmus of Panama in the fall of 1854. 

In 1855, he was employed as a surveyor and land ex- 
aminer by the Hannibal and St. Joseph railroad company, 
in the western part of Missouri. In the summer of 1858, 
he resided in Vinal Haven, Me., and was in the service of 
the Bodwell Granite Company. Since that time he has 
been a resident of Hudson, where he owns and occupies a 
portion of the farm purchased by his great grandfather, 
Eleazer Cummings, in 1728. 

Mr. Webster married, January 29, 1857, Abiah Cutter, 
daughter of Seth and Deborah (Gage) Butler Cutter, born 
in Pelham, February 1, 1837. Their children were: Lizzie 
Jane, born January 11, 1858, married Horace A. Martin, 
resides in Hudson; Ella Frances, born August 19, 1859, 
married Frank A. Walch, and resides in Nashua; twins, 
two boys, born June 26, 1861, and died soon after; Eliza 
Ball, born July 14, 1862, and married Charles C. Leslie, 
resides in Hudson; Latina Ray, born July 26, 1865, died 
November 12, 1887; Julia Anna, born October 26, 1867, 
married John A. Robinson and resides in Hudson; Mary 
Newton, born August 9, 1869, married George H. Abbott, 
and resides in Hudson; and twins, male and female, born 
June 10, 1876, and died the same day. 

They have eight grandchildren and seven great grand- 
children. (1912.) 

Mr. Webster has been a surveyor and engineer. He 
had an experience of fifty years in tracing old lines and 
boundaries and finding lost land marks. In this he was 
considered an expert, with very few superiors. 



PERSONAL SKETCHES 5BD 

He has always been a Democrat in politics, and al- 
though in the minority party politically in his town, he was 
selectman four years, being chairman of the board. 

He has twice been chairman of a committee to re- 
appraise all the real estate in Hudson for taxation, and was 
chosen a third time, but declined to serve on account of 
his advancing age. He represented his town in the state 
Legislature for the term of 1901 to 1902. He was a mem- 
ber of the school board of Hudson for seven years, 1885- 
1893. He has been one of the trustees of the public library 
since its organization in 1894. He was chairman of a com- 
mittee of five to build a new bridge over Merrimack river 
in 1881. In 1910, he was again a member of another com- 
mittee of five for the town of Hudson, including the select- 
men, to build another bridge to replace the former one, 
which had become unfit for the increasing traffic. 

He has been a continuous acting Justice of the Peace 
since 1859, drawing numerous deeds, wills and other legal 
papers. His practice in the probate courts has been ex- 
tensive. He has been a trustee in savings banks in Nashua 
for many years. He is a member of Rising Sun Lodge, F. 
and A. M., of Nashua, and has been largely identified with 
the history of the order of Patrons of Husbandry in Hills- 
borough County. He was the first to become interested 
in the establishment of a local grange in Hudson, and was 
its Master for ten years. He was one of the few to organ- 
ize the New Hampshire State Grange, December 23, 1873, 
and also Hillsborough County Council, March 4, 1874, of 
which he was Master two years, and its secretary from De- 
cember, 1876, until the organization, April 17, 1883, of its 
successor, Hillsborough County Pomona Grange, No. 1, 
when he was secretary of that body, which office he con- 
tinued to hold to December, 1888, when he declined a re- 
election. 

He has always been much interested in historical mat- 
ters and ancient landmarks, including genealogies. 



590 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

In the Genealogical and Family History of the State of 
New Hampshire, published in 1908,. under Webster ances- 
try, page 23, Ebenezer Webster, are several very important 
errors. 

The genealogy will be found correct in this article, also 
as given in the History of Hudson, in the History of Hills- 
borough County, N. H., published 1885, by J. W. Lewis & 
Co., Philadelphia, page 482. 

Nathan Pierce Webster 

Nathan Pierce Webster, the fifth son and tenth child 
of John and Hannah (Cummings) Webster, was born in 
Pelham, N. H., May 19, 1835. 

In his seventh year his parents removed to Amherst, 
N. H., and when he was twelve they returned to Hudson. 
He was educated at the public schools in Amherst and 
Hudson and a private academy at Hudson Center. While 
in his minority he worked with his father on the farm at 
Bush hill and one season on a farm in Dracut, Mass. In 
the later years he spent the winters at making shoes with 
some of his brothers, in a small shoe shop at the home- 
stead. 

In 1857, at the age of twenty-two years, he was em- 
ployed at quarrying and cutting stone in Vinal Haven, Me. 
In 1858, he engaged in the periodical business in Boston, 
which he pursued with success for several years. 

May 17, 1860, he married Susan M. Morrison, daugh- 
ter of Samuel and Achsah (Davis) Morrison, born in Hud- 
son, November 27, 1838. The fruit of this marriage was 
one son, Brinton M. Webster, born in East Cambridge, 
Mass., October 6, 1864. Susan Webster died October 6, 
1864. He married, second, Josephine E. Rollins, daughter 
of Hiram Rollins, of Chelsea, Mass., born February 29, 
1840. They had two children: Moses R., born in Hud- 
son, April 24, 1879, and Adele G., born May 17, 1880, and 
died July 21, 1897. 




WILLARD H. WEBSTER, 1837-1869 



PERSONAL SKETCHES 591 



brother, John C. Webster, at Danbury Depot, N. H. They 
kept a large store, including groceries and a variety of 
other goods. He remained in Danbury two years, until 
1868. 

In 1869, he and his brother, Willard H. Webster 
formed a copartnership in the grocery business in Hudson. 
Willard Webster died November 23, 1869. He then as- 
sumed the full ownership and management of the store, 
which he conducted with success until 1892, when by rea- 
son of declining health he sold out his business to George 
G. Andrews. 

He represented the town of Hudson in the Legislature 
in 1882. He was postmaster from November 15, 1869, to 
July 24, 1878, and from April 14, 1879, to July 23, 1892, 
more than twenty-two years in all. He was a Democrat in 
politics, and a member of the Baptist church. Although 
fond of hunting and fishing, he never permitted sport to 
interfere with his business. His integrity as an honest 
man was beyond question by all who knew him. He died 
January 28, 1893. His wife, Josephine, died January 30, 
1907. 

Willard H. Webster 

Willard H. Webster, son of John and Hannah (Cun> 
mings) Webster, was born in Pelham, N. H., March 22, 
1837. In 1841, the family removed to Amherst, N. H., 
and in 1846, to Hudson. Willard was instructed in the 
public schools in Amherst and Hudson, and a private acad- 
emy at Hudson Center. 

He married, June 9, 1859, Sophia C. Foster, daughter 
of David and Sophia (Coburn) Foster, of Hudson, born 
June 6, 1839. A daughter, Ida S., was born to them July 
18, 1860. His wife, Sophia, died November 15, 1860, and* 
this daughter was brought up by her grandmother, Mrs. 
Foster. He married, second, October 19, 1863, Addie M. 



592 HISTORY OF HUDSON 

Walton, of Maine, born March 12, 1843. The following 
children resulted from this marriage: George Walton, born 
August 31, 18G4; Melville Trevett, born May 6, 1866, died 
September 18, 1867; and Minnie Louise, born February 
21, 1869. 

Mr. Webster was brought up by his father to assist 
him on the farm, and for a short time he made shoes. For 
several years after he attained his majority he was engaged 
in the newspaper work in Boston, with three of his broth- 
ers. In the winter of 1867, while caring for his parents on 
the farm in Hudson, his youngest brother, Orrin P. Web- 
ster, then doing a successful business in Boston, came to 
his father's in January, and died of tuberculosis, February 
3, 1867. 

Willard immediately removed to Boston to save his 
brother's business from going to ruin by default. He re- 
turned to Hudson in September of the same year, but not 
until after having received into his system, in some way, 
the germs of the "white plague." He had been a young 
man with a strong will and a great ambition, and had in- 
herited a very strong constitution. 

In the spring of 1878, he entered the grocery business 
in Carnes' store at the Bridge. He was appointed post- 
master of the Hudson office, September 21, 1868. He, 
with his brother, Nathan P. Webster, formed a firm in the 
grocery business in the old store at the Bridge, in the 
spring of 1869. He struggled against the progress of the 
disease for more than two years, but his iron constitution 
and his indomitable will and ambition could not prevail. 
He died November 23, 1869, thirty-two years of age, and 
a noble young man in the prime of life, universally loved 
and respected. 



GENERAL INDEX 



Accident on Pelham electric rail- 
way 506, 507 

Agriculture of Hudson .... 24 
Aix la Chapelle, treaty of . . .226 
Alarm of Ticonderoga . 257—260 

Albany, march to 228 

Alvime memorial chapel, 457 — 460 

summer residence, 467, 524 

Ameriscoggin Indians . . . 35, 55 

Ammunition required of towns, 225 

Amoskeag canal 511 

falls 33,393 

camping-place . 71 

fishing at . 29, 39 

Andrews' hall ...... 478, 479 

Anecdotes of Wonnalancet . . 40 
Area of town of Hudson, 17, 293 (2) 

Association test 236, 237 

names of signers, 237 — 239 
Atwood, Mrs. Electa, bequest, 457 
Ayers village 505 

Back road 186, 187 

Lowell road . . 488, 493, 494 

Baker Bros., store 520 

Baker street 497 (2) 

Baldwin's bridge 484 

Baldwin house 374 

Banns, publishing of 356 

Baptist church . . . 428, 433—444 

society . . 217, 221 (3), 222 

Barbarity of the English against the 

Indians 52, 53 

Example of Temple Bar, 53 

Barrett's hill . . 23, 32 (2), 363, 378, 

380, 489, 492 



Barrett's hill road, 491, 494 (2), 495' 

49G (2) 

Barrett, "Jim," place .... 308 

Barrett place 179, 362 

Barrington, settlement of ... 49 

Batchelder place 492 

Battles of the Civil War . . 280, 
282, 287 

Bean porridge 345 

Beards 354 

Beaver brook . . 24, 91, 130, 145(2), 
146, 151, 153, 155, 374, 484, 492 

Beef tax 248 

Belknap place 489 

road 489 

Bell, church 437 

Bennington appeal 259 

Hudson men, 242, 260 
pay roll . . . 260, 261 

Bill of rights 249 

Bills of credit 360 

Biographical sketches . 297 — 315, 
569—592 

Blodget canal 511 

Blodgett cemetery . . 86, 106, 121, 

169, 177, 195, 313, 320, 374, 414, 

415, 485, 488 

farm 85, 86, 119 

garrison . . 72, 83 — 85, 87, 

118, 169 

Joseph, place . . 315 (2) 

Bloody Brook battle 76 

Board of public works, Nashua 

407 (3) 
Boating on the Merrimack . . 403 

Boots, with tops 337 

593 



594 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Boston Bridge company . . . 407 

Boston & Maine railroad . . . 502 

Boston & Northern street railway 

406, 407 

Boundary disputes . 88, 137—146, 

149—154, 189 

Hudson of . . . 17, 154 

Nottingham West . 484, 

485, 495 

pine"F" .... 145 (2) 

Bounties paid soldiers in Civil 

War .... 274 (5), 275, 291 

Bounty on wolves 22 

Indian scalps 52 

Bowman road 310, 490 

Box shop 527 

Breaking roads 353 

Break-neck hill road 496 

Brenton's Farm . . 31 (2), 33, 82, 
129 (2), 130, 137, 144 

Brenton land 116 

Brick church, when built . 448, 522 

Bridges 399—522 

Bridge road 494 

Bridle road 492 

Brown University 218 

Brunswick, Me., depredation . . 50 

Bunker Hill, Hudson men at . 243, 

255, 256 (2), 257 

Burbank farm 164 

Burgoyne's fleet 257 

Burnett place 310 

Burial grounds (See Cemeteries) 21 

Burying ground of Indians . . 104, 

197, 201 

Burns hill 75 

place 314 

road 186 

Burse road 491 

Bush hill . . 23, 125—127, 165, 171, 

181, 182, 309, 314, 37S, 490, 

491, 493 

district 320, 379 

road . . 320,381,490,492 



Cambridge church 83 

platform 204 

Canada expedition 229 

Canal boats 511, 512 

street bridge, Nashua . . 395 

Candle making 341 

sticks 342 

Canibas Indians 51, 52 

Canobie Lake park .... 506 (2) 

Canoe trip, a long 164 

Carding mill 363 

wool 518 

Carletonfarm 111,112 

Carnes' blacksmith shop . . . 516 

grocery store .... 517 

store building .... 520 

Catholic cemetery . .105,108,420, 

421, 500 

Cavalry, Hudson men in . . . 287 

Cemetery, Blodgett .... 86, 121 

Center 383 

Hills Farms .... 174 

Senter 307 

South Nashua . . . 169 

history of, . 411 — 422 

unknown dead,421,422 

(See Burial Grounds) 

Census (See Population) 

Centennial anniversary, Baptist 

442—444 

Chain pumps 349 

Chamberlain-Paugus tradition . 66, 
67 (See footnote, 67) 

Charlestown, Mass 75 

Old, No. 4 . . . 228 
Charter of King Charles . . . 137 

Chase hill 127, 180, 381 

place .... 123, 311, 491 

(John) place 315 

Check lists 540—550 

Chester, settlement of .... 49 

Church affairs unsettled . . . 213 

extension society . . . 449 

heating house .... 208 



GENERAL INDEX 



595 



Church history (See Different De- 
nominations; also Meet- 
ing Houses) 
lot deeded to town . 222 (2) 

services 20 S 

in open air . . 218 

Cider mills 339 

Civil conflict in New England, 48, 49 
War, Hudson's part in . 273 

amount paid 274 

beginning of hostilities . 276 
bounty .... 274 (5), 275 

contributions 275 

drafted men .... 290 (2) 

important battles in which 

Hudson men were engaged 

277, 278, 279, 281, 287 

not drafted but furnished 

substitutes . . . 290, 291 

private subscriptions . . 275 

relief, soldiers' families, 274 

soldiers' aid society . . 275 

soldiers in the army,276 — 292 

Clerk of town, . . . . 94, 142, 169, 

551, 553, 554 

Clocks 346 

Clothing mill 363 

Cohas brook 33 

(See Suskayquetuck) 
Colburn farm .... 122, 123, 312 
land .... 121, 122, 176 
(Thomas) place ... 313 

Cold Friday 369 

summer 369 

Colonists, loss of life 58 

Committee of inspection . . 239, 
240—244 
safety . . 236, 237, 
240, 243, 244 
" to set value " on pro- 
visions . . . 241, 246 

Commons 195 ; 381, 382 

Congregationalists in Hudson, 182, 

183, 201, 202 (2), 203 (2), 204, 

205 (3) 



Congregationalists union with Pres- 
byterians, 210, 214, 215, 
218 (4), 223, 428—433 

house 515 

parsonage 433 

Connecticut river campaign . . 228 

Constables, 1731-2 119 

Constitutional convention 560, 561 

(2) 

Corn rate .... 247, 248, 249 (2) 

Continental money . . . 240, 241 

alarm over situation, 241, 

245, 248, 360, 361 

tax 248 

Cooking, old time 333 

stoves 335 

Corey's ferry 171, 401 

Corliss hill 320, 488 

school house . . . 380 

Corrugated metal company . . 404 

County of Hillsborough . . . 372 

road . . 120, 486, 489, 493, 

494, 511 

Cows 293 

Crime — see Murder. 

Cromwell's falls 18 

Cross farm 108 

house 106 

Crown Point army rations, 230, 257 
expedition, 228 (2), 229 

road 229 

Cummings farm 102 

house .... 105 

ferry 113, 199 

tavern .... 106, 173 
(Eleazer.Jr.) farm . 110, 
111, 178, 510 
(Ephraim) house . 125 
farm . . 126 
(Josiah) farm . . . 115 

(William) farm 109 

Cummings-Darrah house . . . 173 

Curtis farm 148 

deed of 148 



596 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Currency, terms of 361 

Customs of early settlers, 331 — 352 

Cutler farm 363 

road 297(2) 

Daniels & Gilbert store ... 522 

Dark day, 1780 368 

days of the Revolution, 250 — 

252, 258—260 

Davenport meadow . . . 358, 483 

Davis farm . Ill, 112 (2), 165, 820 

ferry 385 

(Nathaniel) place ... 320 
Deaths in Dunstable during Indian 

wars 55 — 57 

Declaration of rights 246 

plan of government, 247, 
249 

Decoy point 62 

Deed, Nathaniel Hills . . 134, 135 

Deer keepers 22 (3) 

Delegates to General Court, 557 — 
659. (See Representatives, 559 
—561) 
Depasition of parents of Capt. John 
Lovewell regarding loss of life 
in old Dunstable . . . 55 — 56 
analysis of account . . 56 

Derry lane 485 

road 106, 320, 485 

part of, 486, 491, 493, 495, 
496 (2), 497 (3), 501,511 

"Dipping candles" 341 

Discovery hill 74, 75 

(See Burns' hill) 
District meetings . . 142, 143, 552 
Doctors — see Physicians 

Dooley farm 304 

Dover massacre 50 

Dracut boundary . . 124, 144, 145 
next Tyngsboro . 146 

corner 154 

line 161, 184, 485 

Dutnmer's war 50 



Dunstable area 88, 89 

deserted 72 

grant of 88 

inhabitants of ... 93 

in Litchfield . 129, 137 

in the Indian wars . 46, 

51,53—55 

land in 121 

line 153 

loss of life in wars,55 — 56 
loss of population 

58, 403 

massacre near Nashua 

River .... 53—55 

old line 144 

petition 147 

population. 1680, 55, 56, 
57 (3), 58 

Dutch oven 334 

Dutton's ferry . . . 178, 399, 400 
Duty Farm 306 

Early settlers, character of . . 20 

Eaton farm 172, 298 

Echo Rebekah Lodge . . 481, 482 
Eclipses of the sun .... 370, 371 
Elections, change in time of, 560, 561 
Electric cars . 406 (2), 408, 503, 508 

railway 426 

England and France at war . . 47 
Differences taken to New 

England 48 

Elmhurst 177, 315, 320 

Embargo act 267 

Emery homestead 305 

Endicott survey 137 

English currency 361 

Equal suffrage 327 

Farewell address of Passaconna- 

way 30 

Farms cemetery . . . 412, 485 (2) 

Farms district 320, 380 

The 379 

Farm methods, old times . . . 357 
tools 345 



GENERAL INDEX 



597 



Farmington, Me., scene of Indian 

mission 49 

Ferry, first across the Merrimack 

105, 171 (3), 178 (2), 239, 385, 

399, 401, 510 

house .... 171, 40U' 510 

road, 106 (2), 166, 171, 399, 

400,426,491,498,510,511 

street . . 489, 493, 496, 511 

Fight brook 64 

"Fine meadow" 358 

Fire, burning of Methodist meeting- 
house 447 

Fireplaces 331 

First Methodist Episcopal church 

522 

First meeting-house . . . 183 — 192 

First settlers of Hudson .... 48 

civil troubles . 49, 79, 80 (2) 

First white child born in town . 84 

Fish 21, 22 (4), 23, 512 

wardens 377 

Fisher lawsuit 220 

Five cent limit 313 

Fletcher fund 449, 450 

garrison 83, 87 

Floyd, (Lucinda W.) donation, 450 

place 314 

Ford cemetery 413 

farm 126 

house 126 

Forests, early 19 

last of primeval trees . 20 

to-day 19 

waste of 20 

Fort Edward, defence of . . . 229 

Sumter, capitulation of . 276 

William Henry, massacre, 228 

Foster cemetery wall . . 416, 417 

fund 423, 424 

Foxcroft land 116 

French and Indian War . 225—230 
hated by Mohawk Indians 
55 



French manufactory 364 

Freshet of 1818 392 

1824 393 

1839 393 

1841 393 

1843 395 

1852 395 

1862 396 

1895 396 

1896 .... 396,397 

Friction matches 332 

Frog Corner district . . . 321, 3S0 

Fruit 19 

Fryeburg, Me 63 

Fulled cloth 338 

Fuller farm 176 

Funeral charge 217 

Gage, (John) place 124 

Game 21, 22 

Gardner survey 137 

Garrison farm 303 

houses in Dunstable . 72, 
80, 82, 83 (2), 85, 87 (3) 

Genesee flour 351 

Gerrish lot 121 

meadow 358 

Gillis place 315, 510, 514 

Goffe's falls (Pokechuous), 33, 508 

Gold-diggers of '49 355 

Cowing (Samuel) farm .... 310 

Gospel, support of 249 

(See Minister's Kates) 
Could, (Joseph) place .... 310 
Covernment, plan of . . . 244, 249 
unsettled ... 48 

Grandfather's clock 346 

Grange building 522 

charter members . . . 474 

Hudson, instituted, 474 — 

480 

National 473 

New Hampshire . . . 473 
Masters 475 



:.'J> 



HISTORY OF HUDSON" 



Grange, places of meeting, 475 — 479 

Grant of land, first . . .74, 88, 92 

to Passaconnaway . . 32, 34 

to Wonnalancet .... 37 

Grass of pioneer days . . .19, 20 

Great freshet of 1841 .... 394 

1896 . ... 396 

snowstorm, 1888 . . . 397 

Greeley, (Ezekiel) house . . . 131 

(Jackson E.) house . 305 

-Martin store, see Greeley, 

Martin, Webster, Andrews, 

Daniels & Gilbert. 

place 209 

public library .... 463 

(Samuel) house, 170, 308, 

374 

store 513,517 

Gregorian calendar 371 

Green Mountain road .... 230 

Grist mills 364 

(See Mills) 

Groves road 497 

Gumpas pond . . 124, 125 (2), 310 

Hadley mill .... 362, 364, 514 
-Willoughby mill, 515, 527 

Hale farm 305 

Hamblet's ferry . . .493 (3), 510 

Hardy's Corner 511 

farm 171 

ferry .... 171, 401, 485 

house 510 

road 494 

(Zachary) farm . . . 514 

Haselton farm 306 (2) 

road . . . 127, 488, 492 

Haverhill road 491 

Haying in old time . . . 357—360 

Herbs 347 

Highways and byways . .488 — 501 
(See Roads) 

fences 356 

repairs of . . . 246, 247 



High water, 1862 396 

Hills Farms cemetery, 174,411,413 
deed, 100, 107, 111 (2), 
112(2), 116 
enumerated . . . 136 
ferry . . 116, 117, 400 
first survey .... 74 

garrison 72 

grant .... 97, 102 

second survey . 74, 75 

78, 79, 82 (2), 86, 

98, 100 

settlers on farm . 116, 

118, 131, 132, 136 

(2), 143, 172, 189 

tablet ... 82, 83, 87, 

113, 132, 166 

visited by Paugus . 73, 

82(2) 

Hills meadow, 75, 78, 79 (3), 85, 169, 

358, 381 

meeting-house . 193, 194 (2), 

200, 2U1 

memorial library . 470 — 472 

building, 464 

mills 363 

Row . 82, 129—136, 174, 303, 
304, 378, 380 

district 321 

(Ezekiel) farm 132 

(James) farm 132 

(Joseph) farm . 136, 173, 178, 

301, 303 

(Franklin) farm . . 134, 305 

(Nathaniel) farm .... 303 

Homespun clothes 337 

Homesteads 297—315 

Howard's farm, Dunstable, . . 122 
Horses, number in town . . . 293 

Horse rakes 360 

sheds (meeting house) . 196 

Howe road 493 

Hudson, a frontier town . . . 225 
boundary 154 



GENERAL INDEX 



599 



Hudson bridge 497 

name 158 

perils from Indians . 225 
population . . 155 — 157 
Center buryingground,416 
cemetery . . 418, 
419, 420 
cemetery associa- 
tion .... 419 
district .... 320 
library .... 461 
school .... 330 
post-office . . 518 
Commandery . . 479, 482 
free public library . 466 — 
472 
Lodge, I. O.O. F. . . 478, 
479 (2), 480 
men in the Civil War 
First regiment . . .276 
Third regiment . . 277 
Fourth regiment . . 278 
Seventh regiment . 281 
Eighth regiment . . 282 
Ninth regiment . . 2S3 
Tenth regiment . . 284 
Twelfth regiment . 285 
Thirteenth regiment, 286 
First regiment, N. H. 
artillery . . 288, 289 
sharpshooters . . . 279 
Company G sharpshoot- 
ers 280 

other service . 289—291 
enlistments .... 291 
casualities . . 291, 292 
honorably discharged, 

292 

men in the Mexican War, 

292 

Spanish-American 

War, . . .292 

Pelham & Salem electric 

railway . . . 505 — 508 



Hudson street railway company, 507 

village . . , . 509—529 

water company . . . 528 

works company, 527, 

528 (2) 

Ice break 403, 511 

Incorporation of town . 142, 143 (2) 

ballot 143 

Independent Order Odd Fellows, 

478, 479 (2), 480, 481 

Indian and French War . 230—255 

Indian Head company .... 403 

Indians, Ameriscoggins at Nashua, 

55 

at Nashua 103 

Pennacook 38 

Souhegan ..... 38 
bounty on scalps ... 52 
burying ground at Hudson, 
104, 105 
Canibas tribe . . .61, 52 
character ... 40, 43, 49 
Christian, the friendly red 

man 50 

conduct during King Phil- 
ip's War .... 39—41 

cornfields 105 

depredations in Dunstable, 

55, 56, 57 (3) 

Nashua . . . . 54, 55 

cost in lives ... 58 

in local history . . 18, 26 

kill "Goody" Cummings, 99 

massacre at Dover . 39, 40 

Mohawks not at Nashua, 55 

plague 27 

religion 3S, 39 

Sokoki 51, 52 

armed by whites . 52 
Toby, pilot for Lovewell, 60 

tribes 38 

visit Nashua 103 

warfare . . 58, 59, 225, 226 
wrongs . . 42 — 45, 46, 47 



600 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Inhabitants of Hudson, 1733 . 96, 
97 (See Population) 

Innholder 247 

Intercine troubles affect the colon- 
ists 49 

Inventory of products and resources 

of Hudson 510(4) 

Invoice of 1793 293 

Iron bridge 522 

Island at mouth of Nashua river, 78 

of Wickasauke 18 

Items of interest . . . .362 — 375 
Itinerant shoemaker 336 

Jackson manufacturing company, 
403 

Johnson road 491 

Julian calendar 371 

Justice of the peace 355 

Kancamagus 27, 28 

sachem of the Pennacooks, 41 
Kelley's ferry . . 239, 307, 400, 491 

tavern 239, 510 

Kennebec Indians — See Canibas 

Kerosene 342 

Kidder district 321, 380 

road 321 

" King's Highway, the" . . . 177 

King Philip 42 

King Philip's conduct of Wonnalan- 

cet 39, 40 

general effect, 41, 46, 47 
last stand . . 46, 47, 52 
wife and son . . . . ,53 
(See King Philip's War) 
18,39 

William's War 47 

Kitchen "cooker" 334 

Lafayette in New Hampshire, 372, 
373 

Lakeview 146, 504 

Lamprey river, troubles .... 50 
Land owners (note) 163 



Law committee chosen . . 241, 246 
regulating prices .... 241 

Lawful money 360, 361 

Laws of the colony, first codifica- 
tion 76 

Lawrence Corner . 32 (2), 145, 172, 
384, 492 (4) 

road 489, 492 

Lexington, muster at the Center, 252 

news of 242 

volunteers for war, 252 

Libraries public 461 

Greeley 463 

Hudson Center . . 461, 462 

Nottingham West social, 461 

Library building .... 467—470 

lot 464—466 

park .... 384—387,511 
street .... 496, 498 (3) 

tablet 387 

Librarians .... 462, 463, 464 (5) 

Lights and lamps 340 

Linen fabrics 91, 92, 339 

Litchfield township 129 

area 130 

boundary . . 129, 130 
line . 145, 147, 154, 161 
original proprietorsl29 
part of Dunstable, 129 

taxes 148 

territory 148 

rendezvous of troops, 

229 
roads .... 495, 496 

Little bridge 171 

Massabesic pond, 23, 377, 378 
(See Robinson's pond) 

Tarnic pond 526 

Littlehale's meadow 188 

Londonderry claim . 93, 94, 147 — 

156, 232, 244 

(See Londonderry, grant of), 89 

annexation, 209, 211 

boundary, 92,93,145, 

147, 148 



GENERAL INDEX 



601 



Londonderry, charter of . . . .91 

first house ... 91 

line, 150, 160, 202,499 

manufactures 91, 92 

meeting-house . 149 

pioneers of . . .90 

road . 493, 494, 497 

(2), 498 

settlement of . .49 

(See Scotch-Irish) 

Long pond .... 144—146, 483 

Lovewell's expedition to Pequaket, 

60—63 

fight . . .57, 63—73 

relief .... 71—72 

second expedition . 109 

men . . 60, 61, 64 (3), 73 

war, beginning of . 49, 

51, 53 

Lovewell farm 123, 124 

garrison 72 

house 124 

town, grant of . . . 113 
Lowell and Suburban street railway, 
504, 508 
back road .... 4S8, 493 
road . 177, 493, 494, 497 (2) 
498 
Loyalist (See Tory) 
Lutwych's brook, scene of massa- 
cre 54, 57 

ferry 113 

Macadam road 500 (2) 

McCann place 491 

Madawaska 51 

Maiden, Mass 75 

Mammoth road 124 

Manchester & Nashua electric rail- 
way 507 

Manchester street railway . . 508 
Market prices for provisions fixed 

by court 241 

Marsh farm 110 

(Fitch P.) farm .... 41 



Marsh homestead 307 

road 492 

Marshall mill 363 

Martin store 513, 522 

Massacre of Lieut. French and 

party 53 

Middle names 335 

tenor 360 

Middlesex canal 511 (2) 

Mill brook 362 

Mills, 121, 362 (4), 363 (3), 364, 515 

Militia 225 

Military affairs in New England, 
1777 .... 258—260 

spirit 225 

Mine Falls canal 402 

Minister, settling first .... 183 

afterwards . 184, 200 

rates . 202—206, 208 (2), 

209, 210 (2), 211, 212(2), 

213 (2), 215, 217, 219, 

220 (4), 221 (7) 

last entry 22 

tax (See Rates) 
Minute men of Hudson . 252 — 256 
Mission of Norridgewock . 49 — 51 

Mister, title of 355 

Meadow, Hills . 78 (2), 79 (4), 358 

haying 358, 359 

Meadows 19, 20 

Meeting-house, first . . . 183—191 
description of . . . 188 
destruction of, 190, 191 
when built .... 181 
where located . 187, 18S 

second 190, 191 

dimensions .... 196 
horse sheds .... 196 

location 197 

moving .... 197 (2) 

new 199 

new location . . . 198 
repairs .... 198 (6) 
vote to sell . 199, 200 (2) 



602 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Meeting-house, last built by town 
200 

pastor of 200 

second Congregational . 201 

location 201 

Presbyterian . . . 206, 207 
North . 207, 208, 210 (3), 212 

new 217 

repairs on old . 218 (4) 

Methodist 445, 448, 449, 515 

Congregationalist . . . 515 

Melendy box shop . . 363, 364, 527 

Menotomy 308 

Merrill meeting 201 

(See Second meeting-house) 

road 489 

Merrimack river . 17 (2), 41, 88, 129 
boating .... 403 

ferries 399 

ignorance of its course 

137—140 

surveys . . 138—140, 

202, 511 

scenery .... 529 

(See Freshets) 

to Keene, road . . 230 

valley .... 43 — 45 

Merry Meeting Bay massacre . 50 

Messer place 301 

Methodist Episcopal church . 444 — 

452 

honored names .... 454 

house 515 

memorial windows, 454, 455 

pastors 455 — 157 

quarter centennial . . . 453 

Mexican War 292 

Moderators . . . 551, 552 (3), 550 

Modes of travel 344 

Mohawk Indians 52 

(See Christian and Friendly In- 
dians) 55 

Monson garrison, defense of . 227 

Moose, last in town 23 

swamp 23, 381 



Morey farm 148 

Morrison farm 165, 320 

Mowing machine, first . . .360(4) 

Murders 389 

Musquash bridge road .... 486 

brook . . 201,311,320 

mill, 121, 188, 313, 362 

dam 483 

meadow 358 

pond 24 

school .... 320, 379 

Muster rolls of 1745 to 1760 . 227— 

230 

• 1775 253—255 

sketches of the men, 255 — 

256 

Ticonderoga soldiers . 258 

Nacook brook 24 

mill . . 121,201,313 

road 488 

Narragansett, battle of .... 77 

Nashaway plantacon 76 

Nashua, city of 25 

canal and locks . . 403 
derivation of name . 377 
massacre, 1724 ... 53 
and Lowell railroad . . 514 
and Manchester electric rail- 
way 507 

and Rochester railroad . 419, 
447, 502 
and Rochester railroad . 521 
electric railway . . 505, 508 
garrison or "trading house'' 
377 

Indians 26 

Manufacturing company 

402, 403 

river 376, 402 

canal .... 403,512 
lower dam .... 403 

locks 403 

street railway company . 503 



GENERAL INDEX 



603 



Natticook brook 54 

massacre of . . 53, 
55,57 

Indians 26 

lands 129 (2) 

line 129, 184 

valley 376 

Navy, men in the 289 

New England freedom .... 225 

Newfound meadow 358 

Newmarket, formerly Lamprey Riv- 
er 50 

"New tenor" 360 

Nipmuck Indians 27 

Noon marks 346 

Norridgewock, mission of . . .49 
atrocities of the Eng- 
lish (note) .... 50 

expedition 50 

North End common 382 

settlers . . . 298—307 

meeting-house . . . 200(2), 

207 

account of raising, 208 

first minister 208, 

209 (2) 

lot ... . 209,211,212(2), 

214, 217, 221, 222 

pew holders . . . 223, 224 

house 429, 493 

Nottingham (original) settlement of 
49,88 

area 130 

boundary 94 

boundary . . . 141 — 146 
charter . . .93, 94, 128 
first town meeting . . 94 
incorporation .... 93 
loss of territory . . . 189 
officers .... 551, 552 
residents of, 1733 . 96, 97 

taxes 148 

meeting-house . 194, 414 

Nottingham West . . 147, 149 (2), 

150, 151, 155, 156 



Nottigham West, area .... 293 
change of name . . . 158 
charter .... 159—161 
families .... 163—182 
line . . 166, 189, 190, 225 
men in the French and 
Indian wars . 226 — 230 

officers of 552 

taxpayers, 1775 . . . 230 

1779 . . 232 

meeting-house . 191, 194, 

320, 414 

in the Revolution . 236 — 

268 

social library .... 461 

war of 1812, 270—272, 364, 

399, 417 (2), 292 

Number Four Fort . . . .228,291 

school house, 194, 445 

nine school house . 305 (3) 

one school house . . 200 

Nuffield 89 

Official roster 551—567 

"Old ark" 515,516 

"Old College, The" 168 

Old and new style of computing 

time 371 

Old and new tenor 36q 

Oldest mill in Hudson .... 362 

Old oaken bucket 349 

Old South school house . . .380 

Oldtime cooking 333 

Orchards, acres of 293 

Orthodox (See Congregationalists) 

Ossipee fort 60, 69, 71 

river 51 

Otternick brook, derivation of 

name . . 24, 308, 362, 377 (2), 

493 

pond . . 23 (2), 24 (3), 75, 

78. 362, 377 (2), 301, 491 

Oxen 293 

Oyster River (Durham) .... 50 



604 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Page homestead 180 

Palmer's place 119 

Parks (See Commons) 
Parsonage, Baptist . . . 439—441 
Congregationalist . 433 
Methodist . . 446, 449 
Pastors (See Ministers) 

Pawtucket bridge 493 

fishing place . . 29, 33 

Pay roll of Ticonderoga men . 257 

Bennington . 260, 261 

Pedo Baptist 436 (2) 

Pelham boundary 161(2) 

Center 146 

electric railway .... 506 

collision . . . 506, 508 

families excluded . . . 161 

part of Hudson 96 

purchase of old meeting- 
house 191 

dispute 203 

road 489, 492 

Pennacook Indians 26 

change of sachems . 41 
comparison of . . . 52 
confederacy of . . .27 

Island 28 

Pequaket 51 

derivation of name . . 51 

fight 57—60 

"Pine tree hill" ... 52 

Pequot War 46, 47 

Personal sketches . . . 569 — 592 
Petition to be annexed to Massa- 
chusetts 141 

Physicians of Hudson . . 530 — 539 

Pilgrims at Plymouth 46 

Pierce farm 11, 113, 303 

Pine forests 19 

tree "F" .... 145 (3), 153 

hill 52 

law 364, 365 

riot in Weare . 365—367 



Pioneers of Hudson, hardships of, 
48 
families . . .98, 12S 

Plane manufactory 363 

Plymouth colonists . . . . 46, 47 

Point A 506 

Pokechuous (Goffe's) falls ... 33 

Pollard's farm 119 (2) 

ferry 171, 401 

mill 362, 363 

Polls 155 

(See Population), (note) . 163 

1793 293 

1840 . . . 515, 541—550 

Ponds 23 

Population . . 96, 97, 156 (5) 157, 
236, 483, 515, 568 

Portsmouth men 242 

Postmasters 566, 567 

Post offices 518, 565, 566 

Potash Corner . . . 307, 384, 417 

Potatoes 92 

Pounds 373—376 

Pound keeper 374 

Preaching, money for .... 183 

house, 189, 201, 210, 249 

Presbyterians in Hudson . 182,202, 

203 (3), 204 (4), 205 (2), 206 

first minister . . 208, 209 (2) 

names 217 

names of 214, 215 

open dissension . . 218,222, 
223, 428, 233, 237 

protest of 216 

services 208 

union with Congregational- 

ists 210, 214 

President Lincoln's call for troops, 

276 

Presidents of state, votes for . 561, 

562 

Province line . . 146, 147, 487, 551 

Public libraries 462—472 

Publishing the banns 356 

Pumps 349 



GENERAL INDEX 



G05 



Quakers Ill (2), 128 

Quebec expedition 226 

Queen Anne's War . . .47, 48, 58 
Queen's garrison 377 

"Raking up the fire" 332 

Rapid transit railway 507 

Red house 523 

Reed house 110 

Red school house district . 320, 379 
Relief to soldiers' families during 

Civil War 274 (3) 

by subscription .... 275 
Soldiers' Aid society, 275(3), 
276 (2) 
Religious differences . . 209—224 
Representatives to General Court, 
559, 560 
revise constitution, 561 (3) 
(See Delegates) 
Residents (See Population Revo- 
lutionary War) 236 

prompt action . . . 236 

rolls . . 261, 264—268 

Rhode Island campaign . . . 262 

Hudson men . 263 

River road 320 

Roads . . 483(4), 484(5), 485(4), 

486 (3), 487 (2), 488 (4), 489 (4), 

483—498 

state highways . . 499 — 501 

Robinson's pond . 23, 24, 377, 378 

Robinson road 321, 492 

Rochester, settlement of ... 49 

Rocky hill 489 

road 489 

Rogers Rangers 226, 227 

Roots and herbs 347,348 

Saco river 51 (2), 62 

Sagamon of Pawtucket .... 35 

St. Francis mission . . . . 39, 41 

refuge . . 51, 55 

Salmon brook 376. 377 



Sand plain 426 

storm 426 

Sanders box shop .... 364, 527 
water supply . . 526 — 528 

Saratoga campaign 262 

roll of Hudson men . 262 

Scarlet brook 146 

Schedule of prices fixed by the 

court 241 

School district No. 1 . . 320, 379 

No. 2 . . 320, 379 

No. 3 . . 320, 379 

No. 4 . . 320, 380 

No. 5 . . 320, 380 

No. 6 . . 320, 380, 

399, 427 

No. 7 . . 321, 380 

No. 8 . . 321, 380 

No. 9 . . 321, 380 

No. 10 . . 321, 380, 

427 (3) 

first money for .... 316 

history 316—330 

houses . 318—321 (2), 322, 
326—328(4), 329, 330, 399 

lots 327 

money, 1S47 324 

1910 . . . 324, 325 

pupils 322, 323 

report 323 

Smith 328 

statistics 325 

"standing" 317 

street 498 

Webster 328 

Scotch- Irish colonists . . 49,88,89 

charter 91 

grant 138 

manufactures . 91, 92 

names 90 

title 90, 91 

the potato .... 92 

Scouting parties . . .51, 170, 175, 

227 (4), 228 (4), 229 (3), 230 (2) 



606 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Sharpshooters in Civil War . . 280 

Sheep washing 347 

Shepard, Rev. Thomas company, 83 
Shoemaker, first in town . 336, 337 

Searles road 495 

Seavey road 495 

Second meeting-house . 190 — 196 
dimensions, 196,201,209 

pews 195 

Selectmen, first board . . .93, 94 

1142.142,245,551,552, 

554—557 

Senter burying ground . . 307,363, 

384, 417, 418, 494 (2) 

farm 363 

September gale 370 

Settlers, first 49, 79 

Sewer 329 

Slaves in Hudson 236 

Smith, "Devil Jim" . . . 172, 298 

district road 491 

road 490 

school 328 

house burned . . 329 

Snow house 126 (2), 127 

shoes 344,345 

storm, 1888 397 

Soap making 343 

Social ways in old times . . . 353 

Sokokis Indians 51 

battle with . . 60 
number of ... 52 

Soil of Hudson 18, 19 

Solar eclipse of 1806 370 

Soldiers' aid society 275 

Soldiers in the Civil War. 276—292 

at Bunker Hill, 255, 256 

Bennington, . 260, 261 

bounty .... 240(4) 

depreciation of currency, 

240 

French and Indian Wars, 225 

—230 

memorial tablets . . . 471 



Soldiers in the Mexican War . 292 
Revolution, advance pay vot- 
ed 236 

Rhode Island . . .262, 

263—268 

Spanish American War, 292 

Ticonderoga, 257 — 260 

wages . . . 242, 243(4), 

244, 245 (3), 246, 

247 (3), 248 

(note) . . . 256, 257 

War of 1812 . . . 270, 271 

Souhegan garrison, defence of 

227 (2) 

Indians 26 

Island 28 

river . . 129 (2), 130, 165 

South common 381, 382 

end settlers . . . 307 — 315 

South meeting-house . . 218 (3), 

219 (3), 381, 414 (2), 415, 429, 

237,493 515 

Spalding farm . 112,113,302,303 

house 120(2) 

Spanish-American War . . . 292 

Spinning craze 91 

and weaving .... 337 

Spirit of '76 251, 252 

John Langdon's patriotism, 259 

Spirituous liquors 351 

Sprake place 131 

Spruce swamp 102, 526 

Stage line 514, 515 

"Standing school" 317 

Stark garrison, defence of . 227 (2) 

Stark's hill 62 

independent command at 
Bennington . . 259, 260 

State highways 499, 501 

tax 515 

Steam and electric railroads . 502 

Steele road 321 

Sterling 360, 361 

Stewart's Corner .... 493, 494 



GENERAL INDEX 



607 



Stocks 383 

Stone dam 145, 146(2) 

Stone walls 21 

Stoves 335 

Street railways 503, 504 

Streets (See Roads) 

Sugar making 350 

Suncook (Lovewell's town) . . 113 

Sun dials 346 

Sunnyside cemetery . . . 419, 420 

Surface of town 18, 19 

Suskayquetuck brook 33 

river 32 

Surplus revenue .... 424 — 427 

Surveys of 1662 74 

Surveyors of the woods . . . 365 

Table of current prices .... 241 

shop 364 

Tallant road 492 

Tallow candles 340—342 

Tarbox house 148 

Tarnic pond 24, 376, 377 

Taverns 239, 247 

Taxation, Act of 141 

church . . . 202, 203, 209 
dissension, 142, 147 (2), 148 

payment of 148 

petition 149 

school 325 

state .... 152, 185, 515 

Tax collectors 142, 148 

lists, 1733 95, 96 (3) 

payers, 1783 . . . 96, 97, 110 
1742 112 

1778 . . 153, 154, 162, 

163(2) 
1775 .... 230—232 

1779 . . . . 232—235 
1793 . . . . 294—297 

1733 483 

report of com. . . 141 



Taylor's falls 18, 86 

bridge . 23, 102, 117, 
119,174,178.239(2), 
307, 308, 363, 377, 
378, 385. 395, 399, 
400, 401(3), 402, 403, 
404(3), 405,406(4), 
407, 408 (3), 409 (5), 
410, 426 (2), 494 (3), 
495 (4), 499, 502, 
503 (3), 504 (5), 508 
(4), 510, 513, 514, 
522 
company . . . 513 
Taylor garrison . . .72, 83, 86, 87 
farm . 110, 173, 181 

Taylor's ferry 385 

Temperance societies .... 352 

Tenney's tavern 305, 383 

Thornton's ferry . . .54, 57, 113 

Thurston's jump 380 

Ticonderoga alarm . . . 257—260 

Tiger road 492, 

298, 299 (2) 

Timber and wood 19 

Tin baker 334 

Tinder box 383 

Tinker, (Mrs. Rebekah) bequest, 450 
Tippecanoe log cabin .... 515 

Title of "mister" 355 

Toll bridge 509, 510 

house 404 (2) 

Tolles, (Lucien M.) bequest . . 454 

Tories 239 

Town clerk (See Clerks) 

center of . . . 186, 199, 211 

commons 219, SSI 

house 201, 224 

land 195 

meeting, first, 94, 95, 122, 126 

1740 140, 141 

1742 141, 142 

annual, 1734, 185, 189, 190 
how headed .... 142 



608 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Town meeting, first under new 

charter . . 162 

where held . 193,200, 201 

(2), 209(2), 551, 552 

school system . 325, 326, 327 

Tramps 352 

Travel in old times 344 

Tray rock 145, 146 

Treasurer, first 95, 126 

Tyng's island 18 

Tyng land . 82, 117, 124, 130, 131, 

136, 525 

Tyngsboro, part of Hudson . . 96 

boundary .... 146 

line 497 

Tyng township 137 

Turpentine gathering .... 102 

Unknown dead 421, 422 

United Order Golden Cross . 179, 



Volunteers in Revolution . . .242 

Votes for state president . 561, 562 

governors . . 562 — 565 

Voting lists 540—550 

Wachusett Indians 35 

Wages a day 247 

paid teachers, 1847 . . 323 

Walker farm 181 

Warning people out of town . 387 

list 388 

War of 1812 268—272 

rates 243, 262 

Warrant for town meeting . 94, 143 
Warren plane shop, 363, 364,513,514 

Wason farm 311 

road .... 308, 488, 493 

Watanic 377 

Wattannock 376, 377 (2) 

brook 22 (4) 

pond 108 



Waterfalls of the Merrimack . . 17 

Wicasuck falls 18 

Water power 24 

Water street 49S 

Water works of Hudson . 526, 527 

Webster school 328 (3) 

building . . . 498 

store 522 

street . . . 495, 511, 519 
Weld garrison, killed at . . . .57 

Well sweep 348 

Wells 348 

West Running brook 91 

Wheat flour 350 

Wheelbarrow manufactory . . 517 

Wheelwright deed . . 29, 90, 91 (2) 

shop .... 518,523 

Wickasauke island, 18, 35.36, 37, 40 

Wild animals 21 

Will, (Joseph Hills) 78 

Wilson's Corner 505 

mills . . . 121, 171, 313 

Willoughby mill 364 

Willows along Gillis road . 426 (2) 

Windham 155, 202 

road . . 491, 492, 494 (2) 

Windmill hill 488 

Winn farm 312 

homestead . . .120 (2), 176 

mill 362 (2) 

Woodbury fund 452 

parsonage .... 453 

Wooden bridge 522 

Wood mill 515, 527 

and timber 19 

place 492 

table shop 365 

Wool washing 347 

Worcester & Nashua railroad . 502 
Worthy poor, Foster fund, 423, 424 
Wrongs committed against the In- 
dians by the English . . 52, 53 



PERSONAL INDEX 



Abare, Wilber 1 545 

Abbott, Benjamin 434 

Daniel 402 

George H., 108, 475, 480 (2), 
545, 561, 588 

Col. Joseph C 281 

Ackerman, William G 545 

William II 545 

Adams, Benjamin .... 95, 129 

Elizabeth 311 

Mary (Widow) .... 230 

Prescott A 545 

Albee, Clara M 524 

Allen, Ira 259 

Rev. Mr., of Merrimack . 67 

William H 541 

Ambrose, Samuel 434 

Amsden, Charles H. 564 

Anderson, Samuel 152 

Rev. Walter R. . . 444 

William 224 

Andrews, Allen 324, 569 

Allen B 475, 480 

Anabel C. 507 

Arnold 545 

Arthur S. . 475, 480, 545, 
557 (2), 572 

Bridget 569 

Charles T. 569 

David B 461 

Daniel 569 

Dustin 569 

Fanny 569 

George Gil man, 478, 497, 
504, 503, 523 (2), 557(3), 
561,566(2), 569(3), 591 



Andrews, Gilman, 223, 541, 556 (4), 

569 (2) 

Gilman, Jr. . . . 569 (2) 

Hannah (Mrs. Thomas), 

569 

Hannah 569 

Howard A. . . 545, 572 

James 569 

Joel 295, 569 

Letitia 569 

Levi . 150, 151, 154, 232, 
296, 305 (2), 319, 569(2) 

Linnie B 572 

Linnie F. (Butler) . 480 

Lucinda 569 

Mary J 569 

Maud S 464 

Nathan 569 

Robert 569 

(Mrs.) Robert . 276, 541 
Robert A. . . . 545, 557 
(Mrs.) Robert A. . . 275 

Sophia J 569 

Thomas . . 305, 569 (2) 

William A. . . 300, 475, 

494, 545 

Annis, Drusette S 524 

Joseph F 541 

Parker B 541 

William P. . . 521, 524, 541 

Armstrong, Oscar 309 

Ashley, Colonel 257 

Atwood, Daniel 314 

David . . . 314, 315, 541 
Electa (Haywood), 451 (2) 

Elizabeth 314 

609 



610 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Atwood, John . . 295, 314, 563 (2) 

John, Jr 314 

Rachel 314 

Sally 314 

Sarah 223 

William . . 314, 319, 451 
Atkinson, Eleanor or Helen . 76,77 

George 561 

Hugh 76 

Theodore . . .161 (2) 

William J 457 

Austin (Asten), Abial . . .61, 68 

Rev. S. D 433 

Zebediah 71 

Ayer, Ebenezer 61, 68 

John 295 

William, M. D 71 

Ayers, Samson 206 

Bachelder, Charles H 480 

Nahum J 565 

Badger, William 563 (2) 

Baker, Alexis 290, 541 

John E 571 

John Henry . 448, 524, 541, 
570 (2), 587 
John Julian, 520(2), 545, 554, 
561, 566, 570 (2), 571 
Louisa U. (Webster), 570(2) 
Nathaniel B. . . . 563 (2) 

Oswald P 462, 545 

Sidney F. 521 

Wallace G. 571 

William W. . . 520 (2), 524, 
545, 561, 570 (3) 

Bailey, William 389 

Baldwin, Daniel 54, 57 

Henry . 94 (2), 95 (2), 96, 

142 (2), 143, 188, 374, 

484, 551 (7), 558 

John . . . 134, 143, 551 

Rebecca 586 

Sarah 134 

Susana 134 



Baldwin, William T 494 

Bane or Bean, Captain .... 50 

Bannister, James 518 

Barker, Benjamin 199 

Carl E 545 

Eugene L 545 

Martha 586 

Mehitable 174 

Thomas 264 

Barrett, Dr. Dustin, 533, 534 (3), 536 

Hannah 583 

Isaac . 210, 211, 232, 238, 

242, 261, 296, 300, 

319, 533, 583 

James . . 143, 149, 151 (2), 

154, 179, 232, 300, 

362, 541 

James, Jr 232 

Joel .... 296, 300, 319 

John 90, 129 

Mary E 534 

Moses . . 149, 151 (2), 154, 

230, 232, 237, 264 

Capt. Moses, 232, 246, 254, 

255, 319 

Simeon . 115, 151 (2), 238, 

248, 253, 264 

Capt. Simeon . . 230, 232, 

296, 300, 319 

Rebecca .... 296, 300 

Rozanna (Marsh) . . 533 

Susanna (Page) . . . 583 

Thomas 319 

Barron, Alden H 541 

Elias, 61,68, 69, 70, 311,490 

Irwin E 545 

Solomon R. 541 

Barrows, Lorenzo D 564 

Barry, Lawrence M 545 

William H. 410 

Bartlett, Gen. Bradbury . . . 373 

Ichabod 563 (2) 

Josiah . . . 152, 562 (3) 
Levi 563 



PERSONAL INDEX 



Gil 



Bartlett, Rev. William P., 441, 443 

Bass, Robert P 565 

Bassett, Joseph E 545 

Batchelder, Allen H 545 

George W 2S7 

Mark . . 375, 541, 557 

Reuben 545 

Baxter, Rev. Albert F 456 

Bean or Bane, Captain .... 50 

Jesse S. 284 

Bedel, John 277, 564 (2) 

Beedle, Samuel , 456 

Belknap, Andrew J. 541 

Sarah 534 

Bell, C. P 546 

James 563 (2) 

John 115, 563 (2) 

Samuel 562(4), 564 

Bellingham, Richard 37 

Bellows, Benjamin 228 

Joseph 271 

Bennett, Marcus F 541 

Berry, Andrew J 282 

Daniel M 541 

Edward F 541 

George W 288, 541 

John C. 564, 565 

John W 541 

Nathaniel S 563 (7) 

Bettis, Andrew, Jr 389 

Esther 384 

Hannah 384 

Robert . . 255,256,264,389 

Beverly, Samuel L 289 

Bixby, William 232 

Blackmer, John 564 (3) 

Blair, James 90 

Blanchard, Rev. Edgar, 433 (2), 470 

Edgar F. 546 

Elizabeth . . 78, 79, 109 

Esther 389 

Hannah . 57, 78, 79, 109 

Henry W 546 

John 122, 226 



Blanchard, Capt. Joseph . 108, 115, 

145, 184, 186 (2), 188, 

192, 227, 228 (2), 486 

Lydia . 57; child of . 57 

Nathaniel 57 

Peter 167 

Rev. Silas M. . 432, 541 
Thomas . 53 (2), 54, 107 

Blodgett, Abigail 84, 85 

Anna 434 

Asa . . 158,221,223,554 

Ashael . . 217, 232, 237, 

264, 295, 434 

Ashael, Jr 434 

Augustus F. . . 189, 290 
315, 448, 449, 541, 546 

Austin 541 

Austin J 546 

Beniah 295 

Daniel 83, 84 

Dorcas 336 

Dorothy . 84, 85, 86 (2), 
170, 175 
Dorothy (Perham) . 175 
Ebenezer . . 84, 85, 162, 
163 (2), 196, 485 
Elmer H. . . . 541, 546 
George F. . . . 546, 557 
Harry D. . . . 315,546 

Jabez 295, 315 

James . . . 127,164,228 

James S 288 

Jeremiah, 84,143, 227(2), 

230, 232, 238, 248, 

295, 318, 389 

Jonathan . . 84,217,230, 

232, 254, 264, 295, 

315 (2), 319 

Jonathan, Jr 230 

Joseph . . 83 (2), 84, 95, 
97, 118, 119, 128, 143, 
162, 163, 169, 170, 175, 
188, (note), 196, 217, 
223, 230, 233, 239, 242' 
248, 260 (2), 261, 264, 
295, 315, (2), 319, 336, 
381, 382, 532, 541 



612 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Blodgett, Capt. Joseph .... 315 
Joseph, Jr. . . 295, 315, 
382, 556 
Joseph, 2d, 84 (2); chil- 
dren, 84, 85 (2), 86 (3) 
Joseph, 3rd, (first white 
child born in Hudson), 84 

Lizzie 481 

Martha 119 

Nathan 382 

Nathan M. . . . 287, 541 

Phineas W. . . 217, 223, 

295, 319, 336 

Rebecca 84, 85 

Samuel ... 83, 84, 511 

Susan 83 

Thomas, 83 ; children, 83 ; 
will . . 83, 84 

Thomas, 2d 84 

Vinnie 86 

Warren .... 541, 583 
William .... 420, 518 

Blood, John 541 

William J 546 

Bodwell, Hannah 81 

Henry 81 

Bourne, Captain 50 

Bouton, Rev. Nathaniel, version of 
Symmes' sermon . . 67 

Bowers, Benjamin S. 541 

George 286 

Bowles, Prescott 541 

Boyce, Jacob 456 

Boyd, Mary 336 

Thomas 152 

Rev. William 89 

Boyle, John E 546 

Boynton, Herbert L. . . . 525, 546 

John E 546 

Bradbury, John . . . 162, 227 (2) 
Sanders . . 230 (2), 264 

Bradford, Elizabeth 586 

Eunice (Warren) . . 586 
Capt. Simon .... 586 



Bradley, Allen E. 546 

Jonathan . 230, 233, 242, 
253, 258, 261, 264, 319 

Joseph 318 

Patrick 290 

Bradstreet, Anna 311 

Bragg, Lyman D 457 

Brenton, William, 31(3), 33, 129, 144 
Brewer, Capt. Daniel .... 575 

Lieut. John 575 

John, the immigrant . 575 

Brewin, Barnard 541 

Brooks, Emily 583 

Brown, Alvin W 571 

Darwin 571 

Eliphalet 264 

Eliza W 571 

Henry C. . . 305, 329, 330, 
383, 416, 502, 553, 
557 (3), 559, 567. 
571 (4), 572 (3), 573 

Ina L 572 

James . . . 246, 2G5, 271 

Freddie L 572 

John D 571 (2) 

John E 516, 546 

Judith 585 

Mary 389 

Rhoda W 571 

Robinson .... 294, 311 

Samuel . 168, 233, 262, 265, 

295. 318 

Thomas . 388, 487, 488, 490 

Warren G 564 

Browne, G. Waldo, in relation to 
Chamberlain-Paugus duel, 

(note) 67 

Bruce, Elias A 546 

Bryant, Clara J 572 

Walter 147 

Buchanan, George H. . . . . 546 

Buck, C.H.& Co 471 

Buker, Lucius T 288 

Bullock, E. 457 



PERSONAL INDEX 



613 



Bundy, Ellen F 514 

Burbank, Ebenezer 294 

Eunice Hardy . . . 164 

Ezra 2y6 

John 54, 57 

Jonathan . 263, 265, 289, 

294, 313 (2), 555 (4) 

Samuel . . 143, 162, 164 

(2), 196, 230, 238, 

313, 318, 484 

Samuel, Jr. . . 230, 233, 

555 (2) 

Widow 223 

Burneche, Annide 546 

Burnham, Amory . . 418, 419, 541 

John 556 

John A 541 

Burleigh, Freeman 541 

Marcellus 541 

Burnett, James 541 

Burns, Abigail 121 

David . . 222, 223, 314, 419, 

425 (2), 437 (3), 443 (2), 

555 (3), 560 

David W 518 

Elias 324 

George . . 143, 162, 164(4), 

165, 190, 191, 192, 193 (2), 

195 (2), 196, 211, 230, 233, 

238, 244, 258, 265, 294, 

311, 312, 318, 374, 552. 

554 (3), 555 (3) 

George, Jr. . 230, 233, 239, 

311, 555 

George W 555 (2) 

Jane 314 (2) 

John 164 (2), 165 

Martha 311 

Mary 164 

Suke 541 

Thomas, 143, 162, 164, 165(2) 

William . 121,210,230,233, 

238, 239, 240 (2), 244 (2), 

246, 253, 258, 265, 

294, 312, 318, 374, 

553, 555 (2), 559 



Burroughs, Benjamin .... 154 

George . 149, 151, 211, 

233, 319 

Geotge.Jr., 149,151,154 

James 233 

Josiah . . 151 (2), 154, 
255, 258, 265, 319 

Josiah, Jr 154 

Nathaniel . . 233, 319 

William . 154,233,296, 

299, 319 

Busiel, Charles 564 

Buswell, Benjamin F 454 

Butler, Albert F 524, 546 

Elizabeth .... 124, 125 

George F 546 

Gideon . 217, 233, 244. 255, 

263, 265, 297, 306, 319 

Henry . 287,298,541,546 

Henry C. 546 

Jacob 143 

James M 524 

John . . 95 (2), 96, 124 (2), 

125 (2), 143 (2), 186 

188, 318, 551 (8) 

John, Jr. . . . 95, 96, 294 

Lt. Joseph .... 490 (2) 

Moses 541 

Paul 127 

Samuel . . 95 (2), 96, 143, 
374, 484 (2), 552 

Butterfield, Ann 84 

Benjamin 84 

Elizabeth .... 309 

Jonathan .... 296 

Capt. Joseph . 95, 107, 

188 

Joseph 145 

Mary 84 (2) 

Samuel 57 

William 149 

Buttrick, Abel 324 

Caldwell .... 518, 546 

Clifton E. . . . 299, 541, 

546, 557 (2) 



614 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Buttrick, I.eander C 546 

Mary 275 

Buzzell, George W 452 

Caldwell. Alexander . . 215, 223, 
231, 233, 237, 254, 258, 
265, 271, 294, 314, 319 

Alexander, Jr 314 

George E. . 309,541,546 

Hannah 181 

James . 165 (2), 177, 203, 

204, 215, 219, 231, 

233, 237, 258, 265, 

294, 309, 318 

James, Jr 237 

John, 162, 165 (5), 203(6), 

213 (2), 214, 231, 233, 

237, 239, 240, 241 (2), 

243, 244, 258, 263, 265, 

294, 319, 555 (2) 

John, Jr. . . . 198, 294 

Joseph . 143,162,165(2), 

166, 203 (2), 215, 323, 

237, 294, 295, 309, 318 

Joseph, Jr 143 

Martha 318 

Marinda 582 

Nathan .... 278, 541 

Robert D. . . 283, 541 

Samuel . 214, 231, 233, 

237, 265, 294, 319 

Thomas . 231, 233, 237 

254, 265, 541 

William . . . 309, 324 

Campbell, Albert A. . . . 282,289 

Bradford . 287, 541, 546 

Carl II 546 

Charles E. .... 546 

David . . 217, 233, 294, 

319, 389 

Frank E 546 

James 203 

John . . . 231,244, 254, 
265, 319 



Campbell, Osman S 546 

Samuel, 233,254, 263,265 
Thomas . . . 255, 265 

William H 546 

Canibas, Indian sachem . . 51, 52 

Carkin John 106 

Cargill. David 90, 91 

David, Jr. 90 

Cargin, John, 163, 227, 228 (2), 229 

Carleton, Ezra 265 

Jeremiah 112 

Joseph G 541 

Cames, James, 219(2), 447,516(2), 

517 (3), 518, 519 (3), 

523, 541, 560 

Wilhelmina L. . . . 523 

Carpenter, George 564 

Carr, Clarence E 565 

Edgar 1 564 

George D. 278 

Carter, Benjamin 57 

Case, George F 541 

Casson, William 162 

Gate, Asa P 563 (3) 

Jonathan, Jr 271 

Cathers, Rev 456 

Center, Isaac N. (See Senter) . 507 

Chaswick, Hannah 534 

Chaffin, Rev. A. W. ... 441 (3) 

Chamberlain, Cornelius W. . . 546 

John . . .61, 66 (2), 

67 (4), 68 

Levi .... 563 (2) 

Champlain, Samuel de .... 55 

Chandler, Phebe 336 

Chapin, Rev. Franklin P. . 433 (3) 

Chapman, Frank M. 546 

J. P. 445 

Chase, Aquilla 530 

Benjamin .... 294, 312 
Benjamin D. . . . 336, 541 
Benjamin F. . . . 312, 553, 
556 (5), 560 
Benjamin W. 530 



PERSONAL INDEX 



615 



Chase, Charles H. . . 443, 456, 546 

Daniel 381, 492 

Elizabeth (Hamblet) . 336 

Elizabeth 531 

Ephraim C. . . . 265 294, 

313, 336, 

Ezekiel, M. D. . . 127, 143, 

149, 162, 166 (4), 171, 190. 

192, 193, 195, 196, 204, 

231, 233, 335, 530 (2), 531, 

552 (3), 553. 554 (4) 

Ezekiel, Jr. ... 313, 356 

Gilman F 287 

Henry .... 231, 233, 318 
Jacob .... 555 (2), 556 

James 233 

John . . 258, 265, 294, 313, 
315,541,556 (3) 

Joseph 234 

Joshua . 229,231,233,254, 
255,265,294,311,312,318 

Martha 389 

Micajah . . . 232, 263, 265 

Miranda W. 454 

Moses 336 

Phebe (Chandler) . . .336 

Nathaniel 541 

Priscilla . . . 415, 530, 531 

Dea. Rogers . 117, 131, 133, 

162, 166 (2), 190, 191, 

485, 487, 554 (2) 

Samuel 541, 546 

Sarah (Stevens) .... 530 

Solomon 454 

Stephen . 193, 196 (2), 228, 

230, 232. 254, 258. 263, 

265, 294, 312, 313 (2), 

318, 487, 554 

Stephen, Jr. . 230,232, 238, 

254, 255, 265, 313 

Stephen L 336 

Thomas 530 

William 545 

William F. . . 327 (2), 503, 
522 (2), 541 



Chase, William H. . 496, 541, 553, 
554, 560 

Cheney, George 541, 546 

Person C 564 (2) 

Christian, the friendly Mohawk, 50 
Christopher, Rev. Bernard, 442,443 

Churchill, Winston 565 

Cilley, Col. Joseph 373 

Claflin, Sumner F 565 (3) 

Clark, George M 521, 546 

Henry 546 

James 90 

Jeremiah 95 

John B 573 (4) 

Rose 76, 77 

Clement, Charles W. . . 518, 420 

Charles S. 3S5 

David . 327,420,445,446, 

541, 546, 556, 557(2), 574 

David, Jr. . . . 290, 541 

Elmer D. . 327, 480, 525, 

546, 557 

Frances M 574 

Hannah M. (Hall) . 574 

Harry E 546 

Clendennin, Archibald .... 90 

Clifford, Patrick 546 

Clough, Thomas L 518 

Clyde, George W. . . 507,546,553, 
554, 559, 561 

Hannah J 524 

Samuel W. 541 

Cloyd, Mary 388 

Cluff, Daniel B 587 

Cobb, Bert H 546 

Coates, James G 546 

Coburn, James M 541 

Cochran, Frank B 546 

Coffin, Major 148 

Samuel F 279 

William 232 

Coggswell, Thomas 564 

Colburn, Lt. Abiah 295 

Daniel A., 542, 546,557(3) 



616 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Colburn, Edward 144 

Elijah 534 

Enoch 542 

Fred A 557 

George P 541 

Hannah 123 

Henry T. . 122,287,541 
Hiram . 424, 443 (3), 542 
Isaac . . . 123, 265, 312, 
318, 881, 382, 555, 
Isaac, Ens. . 294, 541, 560 

Isaac D 122, 440 

John 295 

Mary 121 

Mary, 2nd .... 123 (2) 

Moses 108 

Nathan 542 

Newton 542 

Paul . 381, 419, 516, 541, 

554, 556, 560, 566 

Rachel (Hill) . . 534, 535 

Sarah 381 

Thomas, 95 (2), 97, 113 (2), 

114 (7), 115, 121, 185, 

186 (2), 187, 188, 193, 

195, 551 (3), 552 (2) 

Capt. Thomas, Jr. . 119, 

121 (2), 122 (4), 123 (4); 

children of, 123; death, 

123; 128, 141,143,162, 

176, 196, 311, 312, 313, 

381, 382 (2), 554 (2), 558 

Thomas, Jr., 3rd . 123 (2), 

192 

Dr. Zaccheus . . 123,223, 

294, 311, 386, 381 (2), 

382, 534, 535 

Colby, Anthony 563 (5) 

Philbrook .... 232, 319 

Collis, Alonzo 546 

Daniel P 542 

James . . . 223, 297, 306, 

380, 542 

James N 289, 542 



Collins, G. M. Clinton .... 481 

Corning, Nathaniel 230 

Corson, Frederick H 457 

Cory, V. P. 76 

Cote, Otis 456 

Philip H 546 

Connell, Frank A. . . 475,546, 557 
Hannah E. . . . 85, 482 

Harry J 546 

John 542 

Otis R 546 

Philip J. . . 315,471,542, 
546, 557 (2), 561 

Robert T 546 

Tobias 542 

Connor, John 542 

Converse, Capt. Josiah . . . .271 

Cook, John 246, 265 

Mary 585 

Coombs, Elmer I. 546 

Walter R. . . . 480, 546 

Cooper, Lemuel P 564 (2) 

Courey, Thomas P 284 

Crane, John F 546 

Crombie, William A 472 

Cressey, Charles A. . . . 456, 542 

Creutzborg, Ida Virginia . . . 457, 

467 (2), 470 (2) 

Mary . . .386,387(2) 

Cross. Arden C 300, 546 

Austin D 542 

Cyrus 289 

Hannah Goodspeed . . 569 

Hiram 300, 542 

Jabez P. F. ... 223, 553, 
556 (6), 560 

John 229,518,556 

Joseph, 242, 258, 260, 261,265 

Levi E. . . . 283, 289, 296, 

304, 542 

Levi S 107 

Nathan . . 53 (2), 54, 95, 97, 

103, 107 (3) ; deed of farm, 

107, 10S; children, 10S (2); 

109 (2). 116, 128. 162. 168, 

187, 265, 302 (2), 400 



PERSONAL INDEX 



617 



Cross, Peter . .228,230,233,238, Cum; 
241,242,246,253.260,262 

—265,290,302 (2), 319 

Peter, Jr 296, 302 

Thomas 265, 319 

William G. . 442, 443 (2), 542 
Cummings, Abby (Clark) . 573,574 
Abraham, 98, 100 ; chil- 
dren of, 100; 110, 
111, 113, 125 
Abraham, (3d) . . 100 
Abraham (4<-h) . . 100 

Ann 98, 100 

Anna 99 

Alden E. . . 102, 475, 

523, 546 

Alfred . . . 324, 520 

Benjamin 99 

Bertha Ella . . . 573 

Brothers . . 504. 517, 

523 (2) 

Charles E. . . 500,523, 

546, 574 (3) 

Capt. David . 126, 210 

(2), 211 (2), 214, 230, 

233. 237. 240, 242, 

247, 254,258, 262, 265, 

294 (2),309 (2), 318, 434 

David, Jr. . . 214, 309 

Dorcas 110 

Ebenezer . . 22 (3), 54, 
57, 96,99(2), 110. 197, 
216,230,233,238,239, 
241—244, 246, 248, 
253, 265, 296, 302 (2), 
319, 559, 560 
Eleazer . . 95 (2), 99, 
100(2), 101 (2), 102, 
103, 105 (3), 106 (5) ; 
children of, 106; 107, 
109, 110(2), 116, 118, 
125, 128, 143, 168, 178, 
188, 190, 192, 196, 230, 
301 (2), 399 (2), 400, 
461, 484, 540, 551 (2), 
554 (3), 555, 586, 588 



Eleazer, Jr., 95,96,110, 
111; estate, 111 (2); 
children, 111 (7); 116. 
128, 162, 163, 168, 173, 
198, 208, 229, 233, 
238, 296, 301 

Eleazer, 2d . 106, 162, 
185, 187 

Elizabeth . 57, 98, 99, 
126, 167, 180, 336 

Enoch 404 

Ephraim . 95, 97,100, 
124, 125 (3) ; children 
of, 125, 126 ; 128, 143 
(2), 162, 180 (2), 205, 
206, 309, 552, 554, 558 

Francis M., 475,481,482 



Frank A . 



504, 522, 
542, 546 



"Goody" 
Hannah 
Hattie D. 



99, 126 
. .574 
Hiram, 441,521(2), 546 
573, 574 
Isaac, 98(3), 99; chil- 
dren of, 98; 100, 
162, 167 (4) 

Jacob 100 

James M., 503, 520,521 
John . 98; children of, 
98; 100, 125,296,302 
John Harwood, 110, 336 
John, Jr. . . 57,98,99; 
children of . . 99, 108 

John, 2d 100 

Jonathan .... 100 
Joseph, 100 (2), 110,126 
Josiah . 60,100,109(3), 
110, 113 (4) ; deed of, 
113, Love well, gran- 
tee, 113 (6), 114 (2), 
115 (5) ; death, 116; 
121,125,162,196,203. 
303, 399, 487, 554 
Josiah, Jr., 115,230,233 



618 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



' uniniings, Lydia 99 

Mary . . 99, 110, 111 

Miraim 115 

Nathan ... 52, 503, 

520 (2), 52G 

Nathaniel . 98, 100 (2); 

children of, 100 ; 106, 

125, 434, 443 (2) 

Peter 125 

Phebe .... 106, 319 
Priscilla . . .99, 126 
Priscilla (Warner), 124 
Rachel (Proctor) . Ill 

Rebecca 110 

Samuel . . . . 99 (2) 

Sarah . 73, 98, 100 (2), 

110, 12G, 180 

Sarah Hale . . .586 

Sarah (Harwood) . 336 

Thaddeus .... 110 

Thomas . . 96 (2), 98 ; 

children of, 99, 100, 

124, 125 

Willard 369 

William,22(2), 60,95, 96, 
99 (2), 108, 109; chil- 
dren of, 109; 110 (2), 
116, 125, 128, 143, 
162,187,262,263,302, 
336, 551, 554 
Willis P. . 327, 523 (3), 
546, 573 (5), 574 (3) 
Currier, Hon. Moody .... 564 
Samuel . . 253, 255, 265 

Curtis, Ulysses G 546 

Cutler, Aaron . . 303, 504, 522, 546 

Abiah 588 

Deborah (Gage) . . .588 

Hannah 578 

Nathan 99 

Seth 588 

Cutter, Betsy 440 

James 542 

John 301 

Richard . 295, 308, 319, 363 
Thomas 265 



Dakin. Abigail 440 

Ebenezer . . 143, 162, 167, 

168 (2), 230, 238 

Justus . . . 167,230,233, 

242, 253, 258, 260, 

265, 434, 562 

Levi . . 167, 168, 230, 238 

Dalrymple, Rev. W. H. ... 440 

Dane, Charles F. 542 

Clarissa 516 

Henry II. 290 

Hermon 516 (3) 

Hermon F 516 

James O. 290, 461 

John 542 

Joseph 418, 419 

Danforth, Jonathan . 32 (2), 37, 74, 

75 (2), 79, 144 (2), 

145, 153 (2), 376 

R. Edmund .... 458 

Samuel 145 

Daniels, Charles A. . . . 480, 481, 
546, 566 

Fred H 557 

William T 546 

Darrah, Arthur . . . 163, 168 (2) 

Charles . . . 163, 168 (3) 

Davidson, George .... 231, 297 

Jesse . 318,553,555 (4) 

John 297 

Davis, Amos .... 296, 300 (2) 

Amos, Jr 516 

Asa . . 23 (3), 156, 165 (4), 
177, 199, 205, 206(3), 214, 
218, 219, 220 (3), 222 (2), 
230, 233, 237, 239, 240, 
242, 243, 244, 247 (2), 252 
(2), 254, 258, 262,266,293, 
294,309,317,319,336,374, 
381, 552, 555 (14), 559 

Benjamin 227 

Daniel Taylor . . 165, 223, 

231, 309, 336, 414, 415 

Eleazer, 61, 68 (2), 69, 70 (2) 

Elizabeth .... 252, 336 



PERSONAL INDEX 



619 



Davis, George H. . . 493, 542. 546 

George W 546 

Henry 309, 547 

Jabez . 95, 97, 111 (5), 112, 
116, 128, 163 

James 256 

Joseph 542 

Joseph, Rev 438 

Josiah 61, 78 

Martha 319 

Moses 417 (3) 

Nathaniel . . 228, 233, 246, 
248, 254, 266, 300 (2), 360 
(2), 385 (2), 389,390,555(6) 

Ruth Ill 

Samuel 389 

Samuel, Jr. 324 

Solomon A. . . . 448, 454 

Susana 434 

Thomas Ill 

Dean, Rev. Benjamin . 438 (2), 461 

Derby, Mary 573 (3) 

John 575 

Lucy (Brewer) . . .475 (2) 

Richard 535 

Roger 535 

Thomas 575 

D'Estaing, Count 262 

DeWolfe, Charlotte S 538 

Lewis E 538 

Louisa (Graves) . . 538 
Dickinson, Elizabeth (Bennett), 584 

Enoch 584 

Mary E 384 

Dinnis, Lucy 434 

Dinsmore, Samuel . . 562, 563 (3) 

Ditson, Samuel 214 

John 294 

Samuel 214 

Dodge, Walter 547 

Donahue, Francis P. 542 

Patrick .... 491, 547 

Timothy 542 

Donnelly, Charles 547 

Edward B 547 



Donnelly, Eugene, 547; heirs . 122 

John 547 

Owen 542 

Dooley, George N. . 407, 410, 547 
557 (2) 

George W 133 

Doty, Norman A. D 547 

Doughty, George L 542 

Douglas, Daniel 143 

Douglass, Robert, 214,294,308,434 
Dow, Elbridge . . . 222, 223, 556 

Dura P 280 

Downs, Edwin P 547 

Drew, Asa Warren 565 

Druse, Mary 84 

Dudley, deposed as Governor . 48 

John 152 

Jonathan C, 55, 517,518(6) 
Josiah . . . .162, 168(3) 

Louisa J 454 

Duff, John W 460 

Dummer, appointed governor, 49; 
news of Lovewell's fight, 
71 ; orders protection for 

Dunstable 72 

Dunklee, Charles E 547 

Durant, George W 542 

Joel P 547 

Lucius VV 547 

Samuel . . 231, 233, 241, 
254, 266 

William H 284 

Durgin, James A 542 

Durivage, Frank 547 

George H 547 

Duston, Thomas 585 

Dutton, John 271 

John E 542 

Josiah 399 

Duty, Mary 295, 306, 319 

Eames, Rev. George 438 

Henry 268 

Eastman, Eleanor 295 

Ichabod . 231, 233, 237, 
254, 266, 319 



6-20 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Eastman, Ira 563 

James .... 266, 434 

Nicholas . . . 231. 233, 

258, 266 

Eaton, Alfred .... 172. 542, 547 

(Mrs.) Alfred ... 172 (2) 

James A. 542 

Walter D 547 

William H. 439 

Eayres, Edward F. . .313,362,547 

Winslow P 547 

See Ayers 

Edgerly, Martin V. B 564 

Eliot, the Apostle, 29, 38; his de- 
scription of Wonnalancet, 
40; influence of ... 43 

Elliott, Rev. Samuel 438 

Emerson, Ann (Gray) .... 538 

Arthur S 542 

Benjamin H 266 

Eva M 518 

Harvey D. 547 

Jonathan, 22, 256 (2), 266 

Lydia 173, 578 

Michael 585 

Samuel 5(5 

Robert 578 

Timothy . . 195, 206 (2), 
229, 231. 237 

Timothy, Jr 231 

William 271 

Emery, Bertha 81 

Dr. James . .305,461,532, 

534, 535 (2), 542, 553, 

554, 560 

John 585 

Endicott, Gov. John, ... 31 (2) 

Epps, George D. 56 

Estes, Charles F. 547 

Aaron P. 547 

Estey, Aaron 314 

Evans, Edward 12S 

Evered, John 35, 37 (2) 

Ewins, Thomas H., 517 (2), 518, 566 



Farmer, Edward . . 231, 233, 237 

James 318 

Polly 434 

Zaddock . . 404, 445, 454 

& Robinson . . .222 (3) 

Farnsworth, Rev. Charles II. . 449. 

457 

Farnum, Dustin B. . . 554, 556 (2) 

Edward 118(2) 

Green leaf V. . . . . 556 

John U 285 

John M 418 

Sarah . 18 

Sarah, 2d, 118; children 

of US 

Farrah, Jacob . . . 61, 66, 68, 73 

Joseph 61, 68 

Farrow, Timothy 562 

Farwell, Jonathan 266 

Lt. Josiah . 53 (2), 54, 57, 
61, 64 (2), 67, 68 (2), 70 (3) 

Oliver 54, 57, 99 

Felker, Samuel 1). . ... 565 

Fells, August 146 

Fellows, Col. Enoch Q. . 277, 283 

Nathaniel 271 

Ferryall, Abram . . .111,303,525 

Fred 547 

Field, Edward 363 

Fifield, Harrison 282 

William J 282 

Fish, Burton K 547 

Lewis L 441, 443 (2) 

Fisher, Rev. Jabez Pond . 214 (2), 

215 (2), 216 (3), 217 (2), 

218 (5), 219, 220(5), 428, 

429, 432 (2) 

Oliver A 547 

Fiske, Mr., teacher of Wonnalan- 
cet 40 

Flanders, Capt. Daniel J. . . . 288 

Fletcher, Col. Aaron 286 

Daniel . 95, 184, 188, 551 

Dorinda A. (Mrs.) . 449, 

450 (2), 451, 452, 454 



PERSONAL INDEX 



621 



Fktcher, Elijah 294 

Ezekiel . . .95, 184,188 

Jacob 295 

John W 289 

Josiah M. . . . 564, 565 

Capt. Robert . 87, 94 (3), 

95, 163, 184, 185, 188, 

551 (4), 557, 558 (2) 

Rufus M. 288 

Samuel 564 

Flint, Samuel 564 

Floyd, Charles M 565 

Joseph F 281 

Lucinda 450 

Fogg, Andrew J. 377 

Follansbee, Anabel C. . . . . 570 

Ardelle (Morse) . . 570 

Franklin C. . . . 570 

Folsom, Abraham, Rev., 445(2), 455 

John D 456,457 

Foot, Isaac 266 

Ford, Caleb Swan, . . . 336, 553, 
555 (6), 580 

Charles M 547 

David C 542 

Ebenezer 556 

Henry H 290 

James 542, 555 

James C 542 

Col. James . . 126, 210, 216. 
231, 233, 237, 240, 241, 
242, 246, 247 (2), 248, 
253, 256, 257, 258, 260 
(2), 261 (4), 264, 266, 290, 
310, 318, 336, 446, 558 

Moses B 542 

Sarah 336 

Thomas J 542, 547 

Timothy S. . . 126 (2), 186, 
310, 311, 542, 553 

William R 542 

Foster, Charles W. 547 

David 591 

Emily 423 



Foster, John . 221, 416 (3), 417 (2), 
423 (3), 534, 562 

John, Jr 423 (2) 

John H 423 (2) 

George 423 

Sophia (Colbum) . 591 (2) 

Fowler, Asa 563 

Fox, Charles J., quotation from, 47, 
54 ; Parris massacre . . 58 

Henry J 542 

Foxcroft, Ira 102 

Freeman, Andrew N. .... 547 

French, Alice 98 

Rev. Daniel L. . . 364, 431 
Lt. Ebenezer, 53 (2), 54, 57 

Edward P 364 

Eliza L. 284 

Enoch 296 

Hannah 175 

Joseph ... 99, 285, 486 

Menzell 110 

Mtiizell S. 547 

Robert 285 

Elder Samuel . . 231, 233, 

239, 294, 319 

Lt. Samuel . . 98, 99, 211, 

258, 266 

Simon 547 

Timothy . . 310, 494, 556 

& Gould 51 

Fressell, Mary 115 

Frost, Aaron B. 290, 446 

Benjamin . . .22, 143, 162, 
192, 193, 485 

Neil W. 547 

Frye, Jonathan ... 61, 63 (2), 66, 
68 (2), 69 

Fullam, Jacob 73 

Fuller, Adelia E. 481 

Albert A 547 

Belinda 474 (3) 

Benjamin 542 

Carrie S 474 

Cyrus 542 



622 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Fuller, Frank J 289 

Joseph, 474 (3), 504, 542, 556 
Lorenzo . 288, 474 (2), 542 

True 490 

Willis L. . . 480, 481, 547 

Gage, Daniel . . 326, 542, 557 (3) 
Daniel F. . 542, 556 (3), 560 

Nehemiah H 290 

Thomas, 142, 143 (3), 551, 552 

Galusha, Rachel 57 

Galvin, Dennis F 547 

Gatz, Arno E 547 

Gaudette, John B 547 

Gay, Elbridge 547 

Warren 547 

George I. of England 48 

Gester, Albert 547 

Gibson, Barnabas 295 

James . . . 143, 255, 295, 

554, 555 (4) 

John .... 71, 216, 296 

Joseph 61, 68 

Mary E 525 

Sarah 532 

William . 22, 217 (3), 218, 

233, 262, 266, 295, 

318, 319 (3) 

Gilbert, Charles B. . . . 520, 547 

Leon A 547 

Gillis, John . . 426(3), 445, 510(2), 

542 

Gilman, John Taylor . . .562 (16) 

Joseph 547 

Joseph A 563 (2) 

Girouard, Joseph 547 

Glines, Rev. George A., 441, 443,542 
Glover, Andrew M. . . . 542, 547 

Charles H 547 

David . 214, 233, 254, 255, 
256, 266, 296, 300 

Jane (Burns) 314 

Robert . 143, 162, 206, 217, 

231, 233, 256, 263, 266, 

294, 314, 319 



Glover, Robert, Jr 314 

Warren 542 

Goffe, John 486 

Col. John . 58, 71, 170, 175, 

226, 227 (4), 229 

Maj. John . . . . 58, 89, 90 

Goodale, Walter M 547 

Goodell, David H 564 

Gookin, Rev. Opinion ot Wonna- 

lancet 38, 39 

Goodrich, Samuel G. ("Peter Par- 
ley.") 402 

Goodspeed, Esther (Hadley) . 579 
John . . 296, 535, 579 

Olivia 579 

Goodwin, Ichabod .... 563 (2) 

Goss, Henry S. 518 (2) 

John 518 

Gould, Abel F 277, 283 

Elijah 266 

Jonathan .... 294, 518 

Joseph . 143,162,196,199, 

231, 233, 310, 318, 490 

Joseph, Jr. . . . 231, 254, 

266, 294 

Mark 295 

Samuel .... 95, 162, 184 

Silas 318 

(lowing, Edwin E. 547 

Edwin S. . 290, 310, 488, 
542, 547, 557 (2), 561 

George P 547 

George T. . 310,488,542 
Samuel . . 310,311,542, 
556 (4), 560 
Sidney P. ,119, 310, 324, 560 
Thomas, 223, 310, 324, 560 
Mrs. Thomas .... 275 
Graham. Eleanor . 151 (2), 154, 233 
William ... 151 (3), 295 

Grant, Charles H. 290 

Graves, Samuel .... 90 (2), 91 

Gray, Henry 532 

Dr. Joseph . . . 319,532(2) 






PERSONAL INDEX 



623 



Gray, Lucy 532 

Susan 532 

Gregg, James 91 

Griffin, Charles E 547 

George B 523 

George E 547 

John E 547 

Rufus K 542 

Grimes, E 319 

William 319 

Griswold, C. J 405 

Greeley, Abigail 170 

Adoniram Judson, M. D., 
463 (3), 470 

Andrew 575 (2) 

Ann 119 

Benjamin . . 174,256,266 

575 (2), 579 

Daniel M. . 290, 416, 418, 

461,542,547,569 

Mrs. Daniel M ... 275 

Esther . 170, 296, 305 (2), 

308, 412, 434 

Capt. Ezekiel . . 131 (4), 

132, 151 (2), 154, 162, 

170 (2), 227, 231, 23H; 

heirs, 296, 305 (2), 

308, 319, 412, 485, 

486, 575 

Hannah .... 569, 575 

Harriet 575 

Horace 131 

Jackson E. . . 305 (2), 542 
Mrs. Jackson E. . . . 275 

James C. 542 

James M. . .275,287,288 
Mrs. James M. . . . 275 

Jamison 290 

Jane 169 

Joanna C. (Merrill) . 463 
536, 577 

John 324, 542 

John P 547 



Greeley, Col. Joseph, 158, 217 (2), 

233, 242, 248, 254, 255, 

295, 308, 402, 513, 560, 

575 

Joseph, 170, 256 (3), 258, 

262, 266, 319, 412, 461, 

554, 539, 575 (2) 

Joseph, Jr. . 554, 555, 560 

Lucy 434 

Mary (Derby) .... 576 

Mary Hannah .... 536 

Moses, 158, 215, 223, 296, 

305, 434, 437 (2), 440, 

443 (2), 555 (4), 569, 

575 (3), 576 

Noah 296, 305 

Polly 434 

Rachel . . . 85, 169, 170 

Reuben, 158, 208, 222 (2), 

223, 305, 414, 415, 418, 

436, 437, 439, 461, 463, 

485, 536, 554, 556 (6), 

560, 565, 566 (2), 577 

Reuben, Jr. 419 

Ruth 579 

Maj. Samuel, 84, 143, 153, 

162 (4), 169 (5), 170 (2), 

189, 195, 196, 201, 205, 

209, 231, 239 (2), 240, 

245, 246, 252, 253 (2), 

254, 264, 266, 374 (3), 

551 (3), 553, 554 (2), 

555, 558 (2) 

Dea. Samuel . . 484, 487, 

542, 558, 560 

Maj. Samuel, Jr. . 84, 131, 

143, 162, 170, 193, 199, 

233, 239, 389, 553 (3), 

554 (11), 555 (2) 

Samuel, 3d 170 

Samuel A. . 169, 308, 547 

Sophia 575 

Stephen D. . . . 133,304, 

404, 513. 542, 553, 

556 (8), 560 



624 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Greeley, Susan C 86,231 

S. Augustus .... 542 

Wilder . . . 215, 295, 308 

Zaccheus, . 215,233,297, 

319, 434 

Green, Job W 547 

Samuel 100, 110 

Capt. Thomas 79 

Greenleaf, Gardner 564 

Greenwood, Cyrus N 547 

Grosher, A. B 473 

Grosvenor, Rev. William M. . 457 

Grover, Asaph 542 

Groves, Elizabeth 584 

John C. . . 480, 547, 584 

Mrs. John 312 

Robert . . . 164, 312, 497, 
542, 547, 584 

Robert G 547 

William D 547 

Guyon, Henry M 542 

Hadley, Dorothy 179 

Eben 382 

Ehphalet . . 217,231,233. 

237, 294, 319 

Eliphalet, Jr. . . 231, 233. 

237, 29-1, 319 

Enos . . 233, 266, 294, 319 

Hannah 434 

Kimball 456 

Moses . . . 211, 231, 233, 

238, 258, 266, 296, 301, 

318, 319, 362 (2), 364, 

434, 493, 514 

Nehemiah . . . 206, 555 

Parrott . . 231, 233, 238, 

295, 308, 319 

Ruth 308 

Seth . 231, 233, 238, 248, 

253, 266 

Stephen . . 233, 238, 260, 

261, 266, 295, 319, 434 

William . . . 223, 419 (2), 

420 (2), 426, 514, 519, 

556 (3), 560 



Ilaggerty, John 410 

Hagin, Philip . 223, 231, 234, 238, 
258, 266, 307, 400 (2) 

Richard 140 

Haile, William 563 (2) 

Halbert or Hurlburt, Ebenezer, 71 

Hale, Elizabeth 207 

Henry, 176, 197, 206, 207 (2), 

208 (2), 209, 212, 214 (2), 

218, 222, 231 (2). 233 (2), 

237, 248, 297, 305, 318, 

319, 382, 383 (2), 416. 492, 

552, 555 (2), 586 

Henry, Jr. . . 239, 242, 262, 

266, 305 

John . . 231, 233, 239, 241, 

242, 243, 246, 261, 296, 

299, 389 (2), 555 

Mary 176, 305 

Mary (Bartlett) .... 586 

Nathaniel 296, 301 

Samuel W 564 

Sarah 208, 301 

Sarah H. S. 75 

Thomas 296 

William 562 

Hales, James 382 

Haley. John W. . . .432 (2), 433 

Hall, Alice 531 

John 233, 531 

Jonathan 456 

Thomas 531 

Hamblet, Aaron 308 

Alvin 542 

Asa 266 

Eli, 329, 423, 441. 443(2), 

461, 462 (2), 542, 554. 

556 (5), 557, 560, 567 (2) 

Hezekiah . . . 143, 271, 

488, 490 (2) 

Horace J. . . . 288, 542 

John . . 95, 96 (2), 143, 

2L'7, 490 

Joseph . . . 95, 96 (2), 

185, 186, 188, 484, 

551 (3), 552, 558 



PERSONAL INDEX 



625 



Hamblet, Joseph, Jr. . .22,95,96, 

143, 374 

Joshua .... 295, 400 

Josiah . . 143, 219, 400, 

510 (2), 513 

Ruth 308 

Samuel .... 231, 295 

Thomas . 239, 242, 261, 

294, 318 (2) 

Wilbur 542 

Hammond, Harry L 547 

Isaac W. . . 258, 264 
Hanscomb, Charles H. . . 465, 547 

John E 496 

Harda, Patty 434 

Hardy, Asa 271 

Daniel . 231, 233, 238, 242, 
244, 253, 258, 266 

Esther 315 

Isaac . . 234, 258, 263, 266 

John 234 

John.Jr 234 

Jonas 294 

Johathan, 143, 162, 171 (2), 

229, 231, 258, 266, 294, 

318, 401 

Jonathan, Jr 238 

Moody 234 

Nathaniel . . 234, 238, 254, 
266, 315 

Paul 556 (6) 

Perry 266 

Richard . . 231, 234, 238, 
254, 266, 319 

William F 278 

Zachariah . . 295,315,510, 
511, 514 

Harmon, Captain 50 

Harney, Michael 289 

Harris, Albert 446, 542 

Henry 290 

Lydia 381 

Myron W 290 542 

Rev. Samuel . . . 429. 430 
Walter E 525 



Harrison, Edward W. . . 563 (2) 
Walter . . . 263,264(2) 
Gen. William Henry, 

269, 514 

Harwood, Esther 109 

Harold J 547 

Harry 547 

Ens. John . . 57, 61, 73 

Sarah 109, 336 

Walter J 547 

Walter T 547 

William . . 96(2), 290 

Hart, Col. John 229 

Harvell, James 128 

Harvey, Charles H 547 

Edward 542 

J. Frank 547 

Matthew 563 

Haselton or Heselton, Arthur W. 

179 (2), 306, 547 

tieorge W. . . 306,442, 

461, 462 

Capt. John . . 156, 176, 

214, 231, 234, 237, 239, 

240, 254, 266, 295, 298, 

317, 319 (2) 

John, Jr. . . . 234, 238, 

240 (2), 244, 319 

Justin E 497 

Luther . . 306, 324, 536 

Lydia 306 

Nathaniel . 126, 179 (3) 
214, 229, 297, 306 

Richard 434 

William C. . 443 (3), 547 

Hassell, Anna 56, 70 

Benjamin . . 56,61,70(2), 
71 (4), 96 (2) 

Joseph 56, 70 

Richard 70 

Hastings, John 416 

Lucy 423 

Hathaway, Erwin 410 

Hauck, Frenton 294 



626 



HISTORY OF HUDSON' 



Haven, Charles C 403 

Haynes, Amos 438 

Haywood, Samuel Smith . . . 294 
314, 319 

Waldo 294 

Head, Natt 564 

Heald, Rev. Addison, 275, 432, 460 

Mrs. Addison 275 

David 565 

Healey, Joseph 563 

Heath, Henry W 543 

Jeremiah 542 

Hennesey, Peter 278 

Hersey, Franklin J 547 

Rev. Jonathan .... 43D 

Heseltine, John 555 

John, Jr. . . 555(5), 559 

Heselton, A. W 488 

George W. . . 542, 561 
Hannah P. .... 536 
Louisa Ann .... 582 
Polly L. (Smith) . . 536 
See Haselton, and Hes- 
eltine. 

Hewes, William 456 

Hewins, E. H 405 (2) 

Hickox, Frederick F 288 

Hill. See Hills. 

Abijah 543 

Alonzo 543 

F Augustus 543 

George E. 130, 543 

Granville 543 

Harriet S. ... 454, 455 (2) 

John M 564 

Jonathan 324 

Mrs. Oliver 275 

Osgood 543 

Rebekah H 454, 455 

Robert 543 

Thomas 543 

Warren 543 

Hills, Abigail, 77, 78 ;second, 78, 
82, 304, 307 (3) 



Hills, Abijah .... 134, 454, 455 

Abner 81 

Abraham 81 

Albert J. F. 543 

Alden . 131 (2), 132 (2), 223, 

307, 378, 525, 543, 556 (2), 

577 (2), 578 (3) 

Dr. Alfred K. . 130,132,307. 

386 (3), 387, 413, 457 (2), 

459, 460, 466 (2), 467 (3), 

468 (5). 469, 470 (4), 472, 

493, 501 (4), 524, 525 

Amos . . . 132,223,303(2), 

425, 440. 556 

Ann . . .73, 118, 132, 136 

Ann Lunt 77 

Ann Worm . 73, 80—83, 586 

Anna 81 

Arthur F 543 

Arthur S 470 

Benjamin 78, 81 

Charles W., 132, 133,304,577 

Clifton M 303, 543 

Daniel 78 

David 296, 304 

Deborah 77 

Ebenezer . . .81, 296, 307 

Edna 82 

Edwin E. 543 

Edwin P 577 

Elijah . 82, 131 (2), 132, 136, 

229,231,234,238,239,242, 

248,253,258,262,266,296, 

307, 319, 493, 533, 577 

Elijah, Jr 577 (2) 

Eliphalet 215, 319 

Eliza 577 

Elizabeth 77, 81 

Enoch . 81, 133 (4), 134 (2), 
136 

E. Wesley 290 

Ezekiel . . 132(2), 136,161, 
163, 197, 198, 199, 211, 
231, 234, 238, 240, 241 (2). 
24o, 246. 247, 268, 2."..'.. 
266, 303 (2), 319, 486, 554, 
555 (2) 



PERSONAL INDEX 



(327 



Hills, Franklin A. . . 134 (2), 290, 
305, 547 

George E 307, 400 

George W. . . 517 (3), 518, 

543, 556, 56(3, 567 

Gershom . . 77, 78, 86, 112 

Granville . . . 133, 304, 556 

(2), 560 

Hannah, . 77,78(3), 82,118, 

133, 234, 296, 303 (2) 

Hannah Smith, 76; children 

of 77 

Helen Atkinson, 76; children 

of ' . 77 

Henry, 78, 79(3), 80, 81 ; mar- 
riages, 81 (3) ; children, 
81 (2) ; death, 81, 82 (2) ; 
95,96, 97, 112 (2),1 13, 11 6, 
117, 128, 131 (2), 132, 133, 
136, 161, 162,195, 199, 228, 
304, 413, 486, 554 
Ida Virginia . . 468, 469 (2), 
470, 524 

Isaac 563 (3) 

James, 77, 79, 80 (3), 81 ; chil- 
dren, 82; removal, 82; 
112 (2), 113, 131, 132, 136, 
161, 162, 190, 192 (2), 193 
(2), 196,296,304,307,411, 
466, 486, 554 (3) 
Jeremiah . . 82, 132 (2), 228, 
231, 234, 238, 248, 253, 
266, 304 (3), 319 

John 77, 78 

Klder John 429 

Jonathan 81, 223 

Joseph, 74 (4) ; sketch of, 75; 
public service, 76; mar- 
riages, 76, 77 (2); children 
of, 77(3); will, 78.79; 78 
(2), 86, 101 (2), 109, 110, 
112, 130, 136, 173, 178, 
376, 577 
Joseph A. 543 



Hills, Josiah 78 

Justus K 132, 561 

Kimball 577 

Mary . . 77,78,81,381,454 

Mehitable 77 

Mellen 149 

Miriam 533 

Nancy Currier (Kimball), 466 

Nathaniel, 73, 77, 79, 80 (2) ; 

children, 80, 81, 82 (2), 95 

(2), 96, 112, 113, 116 (2), 

128,129, 130(5), 131, 132, 

133 (2), 134 (4), 135 (3), 

136, 149, 154, 161, 194, 

227, 296, 303, 304 (2), 307, 

319, 379, 400 (2), 411 (3) 

412, 484, 486 

Nathaniel, Jr., 131, 133, 134 

(2); children, 134; deed, 

134(5), 135,136,161; 163, 

234, 296 

Oliver . . 81, 231, 334, 238, 

254, 266, 307 (2), 400 

Orlando G 547 

Osgood 404 

Parker 577 

Philip 296, 306 

Rebecca 77, 79 

Rose Clark, 76; children of 

• 77 

Rossill F. . 474 (2), 475, 543 

Mrs. Ruth 133 

Sally 533 

Samuel. 77 (2), 78; children 
of, 78; 79 (2); will, 79(2), 
80; 81, 82, 112(3), 116, 
131, 134, 161, 163, 215, 
231, 234, 238, 253, 267, 
271, 296, 303, 304, 319, 
389, 4S7, 577 

Samuel. Jr 296, 304 

Sarah . . 73, 77, 81, 82, 303 

Silas 363, 513, 556 

Simeon . . 134, 256 (2), 206 



028 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Hills, Steven 77 

Susana Raldwin .... 136 

Thaddeus 81 

Thomas . 132, 215, 221, 

234, 238, 258, 267, 303, 

319, 555 (2), 577 

Warren . . 132 (2), 532, 577 

Col. William . . 78, 82, 132, 

133 (2), 149, 158, 223, 231, 

233, 238, 258, 267, 296, 

304, 319, 388, 555 (2), 

556 (2), 577 

Hoag, David T 548 

James 11 548 

Hobart, David 260 

Samuel 372 (2) 

Hobbs, Joseph . 151 (2), 154, 215, 
233, 267, 296, 299, 319 

Joseph, Jr 434 

Mary .434 

Hodgman, John S 543 

Hoffman, George 543 

Hogkins, John 28 

Holbrook, Rev. Willard . 221, 230 

Hollis, David ■ . . 215 

Henry F 565 (2) 

Holman, Rev. Sullivan . . 445,457 

Holt, Eugene A 548 

& Jones 519 

Holton, Lewis M 548 

Hooke, Dr. Henry M., 534, 535 (2), 
554 

Hood, Aaron 267, 297 

William . 151 (2), 154, 233 

Hopkins, Charles H. . . 280.548 

Guy A. . . 410, 448, 557 

J. W 543 

Houston or Huston, Samuel . 143, 

162, 171, 192, 227, 

228, 229 

Howard, J. W 130, 307 

Howe, Rev. Benjamin .... 432 

James G 548 

James P. . . . 548, 557 (3) 
Moses A. 456 



Howlet, Alice French 98 

Sarah 98 (2) 

Thomas 98 

Hoyt, Daniel 563 

Hubbard, Henry 563 (2) 

Huey, Henry, 228,231,233,238,254 

James 228 

John . . . 143, 162 (2), 171, 

203, 227, 231, 233, 318, 

319, 490 

Mansfield . . 217, 294, 314 

Hull, James 543 

Hunter, Frank H 548 

Hunting, Silas 543 

Huntley, Isaac W 456 

Huse, John 101 

Huston or Houston, Samuel . 484 

Hutchins, Alonzo G. . . . 520, 643 

Hutchinson, A. G. (See Hutchins) 

496 

William . . 480,504; 

heirs . . . 519, 54S 

Jackson, John H. 277 

Jacobs, Smith 522 

Jameson, Nathan C 565 

Jacques, Frank A 548 

Napoleon 548 

Jaquith, George D 543 

Jarvis, Esther 389 

Jefts, John 61, 73 

Jenness, Richard .... 141, 142 

Jennings, Wilbur S 548 

Jewell, Albert 548 

Daniel 388 

Jewett, John 98 

Samuel 143, 162 

William H 3y0 

Johnson, Ichabod 61, 73 

John 271 

John W 456 

Joseph . . 258,260,261. 

263. 267 

Josiah 61,68 



PERSONAL INDEX 



629 



Johnson, Moses . 199, 201, 210 (2), 

216.231,233,239,242, 

245, 260, 294, 310, 318, 

491, 553, 555 

Moses, Jr 294 

Mister ...... 54, 57 

Noah 61, 68 

William S 310 

fones, Ephraim 267 

Frank 564 

Joshua W 480 (2) 

Josiah . . . . 61, 68 (2), 70 

Napoleon E 288 

Rev. Robert 434 

Jordan, Chester B 565 

Joy, Arthur 1 475, 525, 548 

Lemuel T. ". . . . . . . 543 

Lucy 481 

Kelley, Bernard J 543 

John 543 

John H. 543 

Capt. Joseph . . 231, 233, 

253, 254, 255, 267, 295, 

307, 319, 400, 510 

Orrin H 473 

William 543 

Kellogg, Rev. Silas G., 457, 524 (2) 

Kendall, Ebenezer 197 

Rev. Ezra .... 235 (2) 
Kenney or Kinney, Rev. George 

W 441, 488 

Sarah 319 

Thomas .... 388, 488 

Kenrick, Harry B 521, 548 

Kent, Col. Henry O. . . . 564 (2) 

Kershaw, Charles H 284 

Keyes, Elias 90 

Solomon . . . . 61, 69 (2) 

Kidder, Lt. Benjamin . . 60, 71 (3), 

151 (2), 154, 215 230, 

233, 248, 296, 298, 299 

(2), 319, 380, 439, 492, 560 

Deacon Benjamin . . 299, 

441, 443 (2) 



Kidder, Benjamin H., 290, 299, 543 
Hannah (Proctoi) . . 577 
Henry .... 144 (2), 146 
Huldah (Putnam) . . 572 

Joanna 434 

John 149, 393 (2) 

John R 548 

Capt. Jonas . . .572 (2) 
Joseph, 56, 140 (2), 577, 578 

Miriam 577 (2) 

Nancy <Curriei) . . 578(2) 
Nancy Currier^second), 578 

Noah 149 

Rev. Sampson, 149, 151 (2), 

154,215,233,296,299.(2), 

319, 434 

Sampson, Jr. . 296, 299 (2) 

Kingsley, Elizabeth . . .99, 108 

Kinnev or Kenney, Amos . . 22S, 

230, 231, 267 

Samuel 230, 267 

Sarah 233 

Stephen 230,231 

Thomas . . . 162, 172, 197 

Kimball, Ebenezer .... 585 (2) 

Ebenener, 2d . . 585 (2) 

Isaac 585 

John 585 

Jonathan .... 585 (2) 
Lydia (Day) .... 585 

Lydia 585 

Mary 585 

Mehitable .... 585 (2) 

Moses 585 

Stephen 585 

Kittredge, Jonathan . . . . 61, 73 

Kneeland, Edward 98 

Knowles, David C 564 

Knowlton, Thomas 256 

Kuhn, George W 543 

Lafayette, Marquis de . . 372, 373 

Lakin, Isaac 61, 68 

Lanagee, Elizabeth 389 

Patrick 389 



630 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Langdon, John 562 (2) 

LaQuerre, Joseph 548 

Laton, Sarah E 583 

Capt. Thomas .... 583 

Lawrence, David . 149, 151 (2), 154, 

163, 172 (3), 210 (2), 

211, 233, 244, 245, 

247 (2), 295, 298 (2), 

319, 492, 555 (3) 

David, Jr. . 154,172(2) 

Hartwell 573 

Hattie D 573 

Jonathan . 172 (2), 233, 

295, 298, 319, 492 

Sarah .... 172, 573 

Sarah, 2d 172 

LeBoufe, Archie 548 

LeGallee, Joseph H. . . 303, 548, 
557 (2) 

Lemons, Joseph 399 

Lemoy, Philip 548 

Lenahan, John . . .308,543,557 

Thomas 543 

Leonard, Samuel 271 

Sidney W 548 

Leslie, Charles C. 588 

Kliza B 464 

Eugene W 548 

William H. . . . 504, 521, 
543, 548 

Levett, Christophe 28 

Lewis, Henry G 543, 548 

Frank T 410 

Harvey G 543, 548 

John 296, 303 (2) 

J. W. & Co 590 

Walter H 565 

William B 288 

William F., 419,461, 518, 543 
Ley, Fred C. & Co. . 408— 409, 410 
Lingfield, Edward . 61, 68, 95, 129 

Littlehale, Ezra 234 

Livingston, Isaac 273 

William 290 



Long, Abiel 78 

Benjamin, 100, 101(3), 102(2) 

Hannah 101 

Sarah 102 

Lovell, Wallace D 507 

Lovewell, Anna — See John and wife 
Esther . . 124 (2), 170 (2) 

Hannah 124 

John, Sr., and wife, de- 

positon of . 55, 56 (2). 

57 (3), 58; 123 

Capt. John . 55,57,60— 

62, 63 (3), 64 (4), 70— 

72, 82, 113 (2), 123 

Col. Zaccheus, 95, 96, 114, 

123 (4), 124; children 

of, 124 (2); removal, 

124; 127,128, 142,160, 

162 (2), 170, 192 (2), 

226, 551 (3), 552 (3), 

554, 557, 558 

Noah 124 

Lucy 124 

Sarah ; 124 

Lowell, Mary 388 (2) 

Moses 149, 227 

John Messer 267 

Joseph 229 

Stephen . . 149, 231, 267 

Lund, Helen M 481 

Henry F 480, 481 

John 54 

Jonathan 297 

Jonathan, Jr 126 

Olive 310 

Rhoda 389 (2) 

Thomas 54 (2), 57 

Lunt, Ann 77 

Henry 77 (2) 

Lyman, John D 473 

McAdam, Robert .... 154, 319 
William, 150, 151(2), 154 

McAfee, Alfred H 548 

Carl A 548 

Charles A. . 475, 480, 520 



PERSONAL INDEX 



681 



McAfee, Charles S 548 

Susie E 481 

McCann, George W 557 

McCoy, Arus H 290, 548 

Elgin 1 548 

Daniel 554 

Daniel G. 548 

George S 289 

Herman R. 548 

James . . . 223, 288, 308, 
543, 548 

McCu thins, Luther 564 

McDonald, George 543 

McDowell, F. M 473 

McFall, William H 565 

McGregor, Alexander 90 

Rev. James . . 89—91 

McKean, Frank A 569 (2) 

McKeen, James 90,91 

Robert 112 

McKinney, Luther F. .... 564 

McLane, John 565 

McQuesten, Walter F 480 

& Chase .... 504 
McMaster, Elizabeth .... 38S 

Samuel 388 

Walter T 548 

Manning. Fred J 548 

Mansur, Lydia 388 

Marcy. Daniel 564 (2) 

Marden, Francis A. 520 

Marks, Mary 56 

Marsh, Ann 174. 579 (2) 

Anna 112 

Betsey 533 

Hiidget 112 

David .... 234, 256 (2) 
Ebenezer . . 221, 296. 306 

Edith 580 

Elizabeth .... 579, 580 

Enoch S. . . 223, 301, 439. 

441, 443 (2) 

Esther 112 

Experience 112 



Marsh, Fitch Poole . 302, 446, 454 

George 175, 578 

Hannah . . . 175, 578 (2) 

Hiram, 300, 301, 579 (2), 580 

Hiram S. . 492, 543, 556 (2), 

560, 578, 580 

James . . 162, 175 (2), 176, 

191, 485, 490 

John . 112, 131 (2), 132, 143, 

154, 162, 171, 173, 174 (3), 

175, 190 (2), 227, 231, 

234, 260, 300, 484, 486, 

554 (2), 558 (2), 578 

John F. . . 285, 286 (2), 292 

John, Jr., 132, 161, 163, 173 

(3), 174, 175, 229, 301, 

578, 579 (2) 

John, Sr. . . . 112, 131 (2), 

171, 173, 192, 302 

John Leland 580 

Jonathan . .256,260,261, 

267, 296, 301, 492, 

533, 579 (3) 

Lydia . . 173, 175, 578 (2) 

Marion 580 

Martha 175 

Mary 112 

Mehitable (Barker) . . 174 

Miriam 180 

Nathaniel P. ... 533 (2) 
Olivia (Goodspeed), 580 (2) 
Onesipherous . . . 85, 143, 
162, 175, 176, 180. 
485, 578 (2) 
Otis R. . . 288, 543, 557 (2) 

Reuben 112 (2) 

Samuel, 154, 199 (2). 204 (2). 
205. 211, 212, 216, 220, 
231, 234. 238, 242 (2), 245, 
247, 249 (2), 253, 262, 
263, 267, 293, 296, 300. 
302(3), 306, 319,358, 461, 
531, 553, 554. 555 (8), 560 
Samuel, Jr. ... 296, 319 



b'32 



HISTORY' OF HUDSON 



Marsh, Sarah (Severance), 173, 174, 

175, 302, 579 (3) 

Sarah (Sawyer) . . 579 (2) 

Rev. Thomas . . 116, 131, 

133, 149, 161, 163, 166, 

173, 174(2), 175,216,223, 

231, 234, 238, 241, 246, 

296, 300, 301 (2), 319, 466 

Thomas, 556, 579 (3), 580 

Stephen 112 

Walter Hiram . 174 (2), 

175, 223, 300, 301, 

543, 548, 580 (3) 

Walter Wilder . . . 580 

William 296 

Marshall, Albert H 543 

Benjamin . . . 231, 234, 

238, 253, 254, 255, 267, 

294, 31S 

Benjamin, Jr. . 255, 313 

Caleb 279 

Dana S 548 

Daniel . . 173, 204, 210, 

234, 246, 247, 263, 267, 

296, 304 (2), 319 

David 234, 254 

David C 517 (2) 

Deborah . . . 234, 319 
Elijah, 246. 299, 319, 492 

Eugene J 548 

Frank E 548 

Frederick 543 

George W. . . 308, 420, 
519, 543, 548 

Hannah 434 

Henry . 294,315,319,643 

Herbert W 548 

Isaac . 215, 267, 296, 304 

Jacob 288 

John . 131 (2), 143, 151, 
171, 172, 173, 178, 190 
(2), 191, 192 (2), 193, 
195 (2), 196, 235, 255, 
256, 267, 304, 319, 384, 
484 (2), 486, 487, 489, 
532, 554 (2) 



Marshall/John, Jr. ... 143, 149.. 

173, 234 

John B. . . 304, 543, 548 

John D 497 

John N 454, 517 

Mrs. John N. . . . 454 
Joseph .... 263,267 
Leonard B. . . 176, 186 

Lot 297 

Nathan, 420,445, 454, 455, 

519 

Nathaniel . 296,299 ,319 

Natt W 548 

Philip . . 150, 151, 154. 
215, 234, 295, 319 

Philip, Jr 295 

Richard . . 115, 149, 151 

(2), 154, 231, 234, 

267, 319 

Richard, 2d . . 234, 238, 

253, 296, 303 

Ruth . . . 296, 297, 319 

Samuel . . 234, 315, 363 

Thomas 234 

Dwight E 543 

Martin, Elisha 543 

Elisha A. . . 219, 504, 543 

Elisha Z 522 (2) 

Ezra A 524, 548 

Horace A. . . 480,548,588 

Ina V 464 

Lizzie 475 

Noah 563 (2) 

Brothers 563 (2) 

Mason, Addie Elizabeth . . . 580 
Elizabeth (True) . . .580 

Jeremiah 562 

John C. 580 

Larkin D 564 

Massasoit 46 

Mathers, Cotton 47 

Dr. Increase, prayer of, 48 

Maxfield, Hayden S 54S 

Melendy, Charles F. . . . 364, 548 



PERSONAL INDEX 



t>33 



Mellows, Edward 76 

Hannah Smith ... 76 

Melvin, Albert H 548 

Augustus J. 548 

Benjamin .... 149, 319 

Daniel 61, 68 

Eleazer 61, 68 

Frank P 543 

James . . 296, 300 (2), 418 

Tolford D 543 

William 543 

Menter, George 434 

Merrill, Abel . . 143, 162, 176, 181, 
231, 234, 267, 294, 530 

Abigail 81, 577 

Adoniram Judson . . 576 

Annie E 536 

Annie Gertrude . 519, 581 

Asa 446 

Austin T 289 

Dea. Benjamin . 223, 294, 

310, 318, 362, 555, 580 

Benjamin A. . . 420, 553, 

556 (2) 

Daniel . 81, 143, 162, 176, 

198, 305, 437 (2), 488, 489, 

552, 554 (2), 576, 577 

Rev. Daniel . 435 (2), 436, 

488, 576 

Emma B. . . . 463, 464 (2) 

Esther 81, 577 

Frances Victoria . . . 526 
George A. . . 327, 463 (2), 
548, 557, 581 
George E. . . 524, 543, 554 
Henry . . . 297, 305, 318 
Henry A. . . 474 (2), 543 

Henry Clay 57(3 

Isaac . . 156, 210 (2), 211, 

217 (2), 220 (2), 221, 234, 

294, 311, 317, 318, 428, 

555 (6), 560 

James B., 404, 474 (2), 475 

(3),476,r,19,543,554,557, 

(3), 560, 580 (3), 581 (3) 



Merrill, James E 524,581 

Joanna 436 

Joanna C 576 

John . .227,231,234,242, 
254, 267, 294, 318 

John, Jr 271 

Joseph 436—438 

Josiah . . . 215, 296, 299 
Lucy A. (Byam) . . . 584 

Mary 176, 305 

Mary Hammond . . . 576 

Moses 436 

Moses R. 576 

Nancy 275, 504 

Ens. Nathaniel . 231, 234, 

239, 242, 261, 310 

Nathaniel, Jr., 231, 234, 239 

Rev. Nathaniel . 126, 166, 

169, 176 (2), 182, 184, 

186, 191 (2), 198, 200 (2), 

201 (4). 202, 203, 204 (2), 

209 (3), 210, 212, 217, 

218, 229, 311, 414, 428, 

530, 580, 581 

Olive 311 

Otis A 282 

Persis A. . . 474, 475, 581 

Mrs. Persis A 474 

Priscilla . . . 166, 530 (3) 

Rachel 434 

Rogers 246, 267 

Ruth 308 

Samuel . . . S5, 227, 311, 

487, 554 

Samuel, Jr. . . 85 (2), 196 

Sarah (Plummer) . . .580 

Sarah B. 534 

Susan M. 576 

Susanna 3H 

Susanna (Gale) . . . 576 

Mrs. S. E. 474 

Tabitha 432 

Tamison 176 

Theodore 294 



684 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Merrill, Thomas W 436 

Warren E. S 548 

William . . 198, 229, 231, 

234, 237, 240 241, 243, 

253, 255, 258, 267, 543 

William T„ 522(2), 543, 584 

Merriman, Rev. T. M. . . 441, 443 

Meserve, Col. Nathaniel . . .228 

Nathaniel M 543 

Metcalf, Ralph 563 (2) 

Miles, Phebe 434 

Miller, Charles L. 548 

Franklin P 543 

George W 278 

William D 543 

William W 543 

Millett, James 543 

William F 278 

Mitchell, George 140 

John, 143,162,165, 177(2) 

June 177 

Montawxampate, sagamon of Sau- 

gus 35 

Montgomery, Francis .... 548 

Frank 548 

William J. . . . 548 

Moody, Anna 311 

Anna Bradstreet . . . 311 

Benjamin 311 

Friend . 234, 294, 311, 318 

Moore, Col. Daniel 262 

Mrs. Daniel 454 

John 89 

Maj. Samuel . . 95,123(2), 
129,231,234,254,267,555 

Morey, Dell 54S 

Henry 148, 548 

Widow 203 

Morrill, David L. 562 (4) 

Edward H 548 

Morris, Arthur E 548 

William 548 

Morrison, Achsah (Davis) . . 590 
Augustus F. . . 290, 309 



Morrison, Augustus R., . 177, 543, 
548 

James 90 

John 90 

Samuel . . 309,543,556, 

560, 590 

Mrs. Samuel . . . 275 

Susan M 590 

Morrow, Alvin H 565 

Morse, Hannah A. 85 

Nathaniel M. . . . 445, 454 

Moulton, Captain 50 

Murdough, Samuel 96(2) 

Myric, Joseph 234 

Nanamocomick 35 (3) 

Nason, S. Rose 481 

Nesmith, Benjamin 198 

James 90 

Nevins, Robert 143, 163 

Newcomb, Charles H 543 

Newhall, Matthew 456 

Newton, Mary 588 

Nichols, Alexander 90 

James 90 

Joseph 319 

Lucy C 525 

Col. Moses, 260 (2), 261— 

263, 315 

Niles, Rev. William Porter . . 457 

Nobhow 35, 37 

Nonatomenut 36, 40 

Norris, Herbert L 548 

Norton, Prof. Charles L. . 523, 525, 
548 

Noyes, William L 564 

Nye, Jonathan 562 

Ober, Andrew M 548 

O'Connell, Michael 543 

Oldall, Elizabeth (Brownlee) . 571 

Sarah 1 571 

Sidney F 571 

Olney, Edward 548 






PERSONAL INDEX 



635 



O'Niel, Michael 543, 565 

Ordway, Nehemiah . . . 154, 234 

Orne, Thomas J 548 

Osgood, Anson A 548 

Charles E 281 

Edward C 548 

John . . . 254, 255, 267 

Page, Abraham . . 22, 172 (4), 178 
(2), 254, 255, 267, 297, 306 
(2), 319, 487, 552, 554 (3), 
555 (5), 558, 559 (2), 582 (5) 
Capt. Abraham, Jr., 177,178 
179 (4), 180, 197, 199, 205 
(5), 206 (5), 217, 231, 234, 
237, 241, 244, 274 (3), 489 

Abram 162 

Caleb 197 

Dorothy (Hadley) . . .179 

Elizabeth 179 (2) 

Esther 180 

Ezekiel . . 149,154,162,177, 

178 (2), 228, 234, 399, 400 

Isaac . . 149—151, 154, 162, 

177, 178, 197, 215, 237, 

234, 295, 319 

Jacob 319 

John 400, 563 (3) 

Judith (Worthen) . . .177 

Lydia 434 

Samuel . . 126, 180 (2), 199 

Seth 295 

Rev. William . . 431 (2), 432 
(3), 518 (2) 

Paine, Clinton E. 549 

Palmer, James T. . . .552,556(2) 

Parey, Joseph 389 

Parker, Charles C 549 

Edmund 373 

Emery 290 

Farwell 294 

F. Laton 549 

George II. 549 

Gerry F 475, 549 



Parker, James E 525, 549 

John 32 (2), 37 

Phineas A 549 

Parkhurst, Abigail 100 

Joseph 84 

Mary 84 (2) 

Parris or Parrish, Ariel .... 213 
family, massacre of . . .58 

Hannah 58 

Robert 58 

Partridge, Richard 138 

Passaconnaway, 27 — 36; character, 
42—45, 91 

Patch, Timothy 319 

Patten, Cochrane 215 

Cofran 296 

Matthew 199 

Robert 319 

Patterson, Robert .... 553, 560 
Paugus, 52 (2), 60, 65, 66(3), 67(4); 

note 67, 73 (2) 

Paul, Rev. Thomas . . . 434, 435 

Payne, Faybian 548 

Victor W 548 

Peabody, Capt. David . . 151 (2), 

154, 205 (2), 206 (2), 

210 (2), 215, 234, 263, 

267,296,298,319 

David 319 

Fred 446 

Peacock, Rev. John 438 

Pease, Rev. Uartlett . . . 439, 441, 
461, 4G2 

John 98 

Nelson H 524, 549 

William 295 

Peavey, Walter A 516 

Penn, William 43 

Pemberton, James . 209, 231, 234, 

254,255,260,261,263, 

267, 294, 313, 319 

Perham, Dorothy . . 84, 170, 175 

George A 549 

James, 95(2), 148, 185, 186 
Jonathan . . .22, 95 (2) 
Joseph . . 84, 95 (2), 188 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Perkins, Basil N 549 

Jared 563 

Rev. John . . 435, 445 (2) 

Mark 388 

Mary 388 

Sumner N. . . . 524, 549 

Perry, Ebenezer . . 231, 234, 253, 

263, 267 

Rev. Lewis E. . . . 433 (2) 

Obediah 56 

Thomas 267 

Jonathan 246 

Peters, John 296 

Peterson, Gustave 549 

Phalen, Frank 549 

Phillips, James A. . . 110,521, 549 

John H 289 

Pickering, John 562 (2) 

Pierce, Benjamin . . 373, 562 (2), 
563 (2) 

Daniel 267, 319 

David 108 

Esther 231 

Col. Franklin . . 285, 292 

James . . 303, 360, 425, 426 

(2), 554, 556 (2), 560 

John P 556 

Joseph . H8 

Joshua . 216, 223, 234, 296, 
302, 303 (3), 316, 516 

Susanna 583 

Pike, Austin F. 563 

Rev. S. D. 432 

Pillsbury, Frederick C. . . . .456 

Rev. Stephen . 438, 439 

Plummer, William .... 562 (7) 

Poff, Peter 543 

Pollard, Abel 223 

Abigail 440 

Amos . . . 119,229, 231, 
258, 267 

Asa 295 

Barbara 118 

Benjamin 118 



Pollard, Calvin 556(3) 

Dorcas 119 

Eben 455 (2) 

Ebenezer . . 119, 231, 234, 
239, 253, 268, 295, 318 

Ebenezer, Jr 295 

Edward 118 

Elizabeth 118 

James 119 

John . 118, 119, 216, 217, 

227, 228(2), 231, 234, 

238, 242, 253, 260, 268, 

294, 318, 401, 461 

John, Jr.,231, 234, 288, 242. 

261, 263, 268, 295, 401 

Joseph . . . 118,131, 132, 

136, 161, 162, 232, 234, 

238, 263, 481, 492, 554 

Joseph F. 543 

Mary 119 

Luther . . .86, 556, 560 

Mrs. Luther 275 

Martha 520, 521 

Mary 118 

Mehitable .... 455 (3) 

Molly 119 

Nathaniel 118 

Oliver . . . 118, 492, 556 
Rachel ... 119 (2), 315 

Raymond J. 549 

Samuel . . 119, 166, 232, 

235, 242, 246, 258, 268, 

313, 315, 318 

Sarah 118 (2) 

Susanna 434 

Thomas . . 95,96,118(2); 

children, 118; 128, 260, 

261, 268, 294, 484 

Thomas, Jr. . 118, 119(4); 

children of, 119, 122; 132, 

143, 162, 196 (2), 318 

Thomas, 3d 119 

Timothy . . 119, 232, 235, 
238, 255, 268, 319 






PERSONAL INDEX 



637 



Pollard, Walter 118 

Warren 556 

William 118(3) 

Poole, Sarah. (See Sarah Marsh) 
302 

Porter, Daniel 154 

David 235 

Potter, Chandler E., extract from 

history 60 

Frederick E 565 

Col. Joseph H 285 

Powell, John W. 543 

Pratt, Dr. Apollos 532 

Sally (Wason) .... 532 

Prescott, Lucien W 456 

Benjamin F. . . 564 (2) 

Proctor, Daniel Ill (2) 

James 96 

Jonas 96 

Rachel 110, 111 

Susan 381 

Pudvah, Charles J. 549 

Putnam, Rev. George I., 440(2), 441 

Isaac 271 

John P 544 

Moses A. 544 

Ramsdell, George A 564 

Rand, Ebenezer 318 

Rasle, Rev. Sebastian, S. J., 49—51; 
author Abnaki dictionary, 

note 50 

Ratte, Cyril 549 

Peter T 549 

Rawson, Edward 37 

Reed, Abijah . . 232, 253, 255, 256 

(2), 258, 263, 268, 319 

Elijah R. . . . 110 (3), 549 

George D. 549 

Col. James 257 (2) 

Rice, E. A 445 

Rich, Forrest A. 549 

Walter G. 549 

Richards, Rev. Austin .... 432 



Richardson, Caleb . . . .553,556 
Ebenezer .... 297 
Henry . . . 232, 234 
Hugh .... 95, 143 
Rev. Isaac . . .183 

Lydia 434 

Phebe 106 

Capt. Robert . 95, 129 
Samuel . . . 217, 297 
Thomas . . 61, 68, 143 
Timothy ... 61, 68 

William 197 

Rev. Zebediah . . 127 
Zebediah .... 388 

Richey, James 154 

Rideout, Abigail 389 

John 175 

Judith 389 

Nathaniel 389 

Roland . . 389 (2), 390 (3) 

Susanna 389 

Ripley, Alfred C 290, 544 

Hubert G. 460 

Rivers, Eugene 549 

Robarge, Joseph E 549 

Robbins, Lt. Jonathan, 57, 61, 66, 68 

Roberts, Hiram R. 564 

Robinson, Alphonso . . 290, 298, 
544, 549, 582 (2) 

Amos 319 

Andrew . . . 235, 319 

Angelah 582 

Anna Davidson . . 582 

Charles A 279 

Clarence Luther . . 583 

Daniel 582 

Daniel W 419 

David . . 223, 434, 556, 
582 (2) 

David, Jr 582 

Douglas 154 

Frank P. . . . 544, 549 

George W 549 

Hannah ... 434, 582 



1538 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Robinson, 1 1 at tie Louisa . . . 583 
Henry C. . 544, 549,582 

Hiram 590 

Isaac 582 (2) 

John, 154, 234, 255, 256, 

268 (2), 297, 319, 484 

John A. . 298, 329, 549, 

557 (4), 561 

John Abner . . 581, 582 

(2), 583 

John Anderson, 582 (2), 

588 

John B 544 

Josephine E. . . . 590 

Lester W 549 

Louisa 582 

Lucius F. . . . 270, 544 

Martha .... 175, 434 

Noah, 222, 223,434,553, 

555, 556 (5), 560, 582 

Noah 556 

Rev. Otis ... 238 (3) 

Patty 582 

Peter . . . 154, 296, 299 

Peter, Jr. . . . 154,215, 

234- 319 

Rebecca 434 

Sarah Jane .... 582 

Simeon . . 151 (4), 153, 

154 (2), 234, 296, 298, 

299, 319, 378, 495 

544 (2), 582 (4) 

Susan 582 

Roby, James 319 

Rogers, Frank P 549 

Hannah, 100 (2), 101(4), 102 

Harry E. 549 

Mary 101 

Capt. Robert .... 226 

Thomas, Jr. . . . 100, 101 

(4), 102 

Roleau 549 

Rolfe, Ezra 175 

Rolland, Fred 549 



Rollins, Frank W. 565 

Roswell, Sir Henry 137 

Rounsevelle, John 549 

Rousseau, Joseph 410 

Rowell, Joseph 434 

Rowls 91 

Runnawit 91 

Russell, Charles A. 283 

Ryan, James 406, 544 

Samoset, his greeting 46 

Sanborn, Edwin H. 524 

Sanders, Abi A 448, 524 

Abram 549 

Anna E. 584 

George O, . 364, 385, 496, 

504,521,525,526,527(5) 

James A. . . . 126, 310, 

504, 523 

John M 404 

Linda P. 527 

Sanford, Hamlin B 544 

John 544 

Wilmot P 544 

Sargent, Abel 268 

Benjamin 102 

Dana . . . 517, 519, 544, 
553, 559, 560 

Edward 102 

Frank W. 549 

Nathaniel 549 

Polly 434 

Reuben . . 215, 297, 555 

William F 544 

Saunders, William ...... 473 

Savage, Maj. George I). . . . 285 

Sawyer, Charles H 564 

Elizabeth 579 

Enoch 579 

Sarah (Little) .... 579 

Thomas E 568 (8) 

Scott, Ceorge A 459 

Gen. Winfield 292 

Scribner, Rev. Matthew . . 213 (2) 



PERSONAL INDEX 



639 



Searles, Jacob 234 

Elnathan . . 217, 268, 294, 

314, 319 

Jonathan . . 232,234,237, 

301,314(2), 319 

Thankful 314 

Thomas . . 232, 234, 268, 

296, 314 (2) 

Seavey, Andrew . 232,234, 239, 254, 

268,294,310,318,555 

Mrs. David 275 

Jane 318 

John 256, 268 

Nathaniel .... 234, 318 

Rufus 271 

Senter, Almon S. 290 

Charles 569 

Charles D 544 

Eliphalet .... 544, 549 

George E 289 

Harriet (Greeley) . . .569 

Mrs. Jean 418 

John L 544 

Lt. Joseph 199 

Simon A 544 

Sophia J 569 

Thomas, 214(2), 219, 256(2), 

268,297,417,433.434(2), 

443 (2), 555, 562 

Thomas, Jr. . . . 215, 494 

Thomas M. . . . 289, 307, 

319, 363 

Severance, Caleb . . 234, 256, 260, 

261, 268 

Joseph . . . • . . .268 

Joshua . . 256, 263, 268 

Samuel . . . 121, 122 

Sarah .... 173, 579 

Shattuck, John 549 

Shaw, Frank 549 

James H 293, 544 

Shea, John 544 

Sheafe, Jacob 562 (2) 

Shedd, Albert 364 

& Co. . . . • • 519 



Sheldon, David P 549 

Shepard, Charles A. . . . 525, 549 
Rev. Thomas .... 83 

Sherburne, James 295 

Sherman, Mrs. M. A 504 

Shores, Fred E 549 

Shute, Samuel, appointed governor, 

48 ; last official act, 49 (2), 

89 

Simmons, Martha P. 467 

Simonds, Daniel . .162, 180, 490 

Joseph 90 

Martha 180 

Simpson, Alfred L 549 

Edward G 549 

Fred S 549 

Samuel 544 

Samuel R 544 

Sinclair, Henry 549 

John G 564 (3) 

Skinner, Rev. Thomas .... 183 

Sleeper, Justin M 557 

Sanborn 513 

Small, George E. . . . 520,525 (2) 

Smith, Abraham 295 

A Ivan . .461,462,536,544, 

556 (5) 

Andrew J. . . . . 288, 544 

Arthur 249 

Arthur W 549 

Charles Stowell . 298. 549 

Daniel, 154, 314 (2), 490, 544 

Daniel Butler . . 314, 544 

David Onslow . . 290, 326, 

327, 328 (2), 440, 442, 

444 (3), 461, 534, 

536 (3), 537, 538 

(2), 544, 559 

Deering Greeley . . . 539 

Dustin B. . . 280, 306, 314 

418, 419, 490, 544 

Edgar 523 

Edgar 1 544 

Edmund 536 



6'40 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Smith, Edward 268 

Elmer F 549 

Fred E 314, 549 

Frederick E. . . . 289, 544 

George A 544 

George L, 549 

Hannah . . 76, 77, 306, 442 

Henry 544 

Henry, Jr 418 

Henry F. . . 306,544,549 

Henry Onslow, 327, 424, 462 

536, 538 (2), 549 

Henry P 280 

Dr. Herbert Llewellyn, 

536, 537 (2, 538 (2) 

Herbert N 549 

Hiland 549 

Hugh . . 150, 151, 205 (2), 

206 (2), 215, 223, 232, 

234, 258, 296, 491 (3) 

Hugh, Jr. ... . 214, 296 

Irwin A. 549 

Isaac N. 549 (2) 

James . 172, 215, 223, 295, 
298, 494 (2), 549 

James, 2d 419 (2) 

James G. 288 

Jeannette :^)6 

Jefferson . . 179, 223, 306, 

. . 418 (2), 419, 461 

Jeremiah, 176, 223,298, 414, 

415, 418, 553, 555 (2), 

556 (2), 562 (4), 563 

John, 150, 154, 215, 232,234, 

271, 283, 295, 319, 491 

John, Jr. 214,295 

John B 306, 564 

John C 290,544 

John H 416 

Kimball 419, 544 

Llewellyn De Wolfe . . 538 

Lydia 416 

Mansfield . . 214, 295, 306 
MarcellH.,442,443(3), 549 



Smith, Marion Louisa .... 538 
Martha Robinson . . . 536 
Mary H. (Greeley), 537, 538 
Minnie Eugenie .... 536 

Nelson 549 

N orris 280, 544 

Obadiah F. . . . 290, 544 

Osman W. 549 

Page, 22, 179, 211 (2), 212. 

214,217,221,232,234, 

242, 254, 261. 268, 297, 

306, 318, 319, 410, 

555 (4) 

Parker 426 

Patty 536 

Perley B 549 

Reuben P. 544 

Samuel, 215, 232, 234, 237, 

242, 254, 306 (2), 319, 

(2), 490, 491, 544 

Samuel, Jr, 232, 234, 258, 

260, 268, 295, 306 

Samuel, 2d 544 

Samuel G 295 

Sarah 304 

Sherman W 549 

Theodora Lottchen . . 538 

Thomas, 151 (2), 210(2), 215, 

232, 234, 244, 295, 319, 

491 (2) 

Thomas, 2d 418 

Timothy . 179 (2), 211, 212, 
232, 234, 239. 242, 
244, 246 (2), 247, 
260, 261 (3), 268, 
295, 308 (2), 319, 
374, 375, 553 (2), 
555 (3), 559 

Warren 289 

William 296, 308 

William H 544 

W. W 456 

Smyth, Frederick .... 563, 564 
Snow, Benjamin . . . 197, 227, 400 






PERSONAL INDEX 



641 



Snow, Bridget . . 127 (3), 180 (2) 

Elizabeth 126 

Henry . . 127, 163, 180 (2), 
490 (2), 554 

John 126.127,551 

Ens. John . . 94, 95 (2), 96, 

126; children of, 126,127 

(3); 128 (2), 142, 163 (2), 

180 (2), 183, 184, 186,399, 

413(2) 

Jonathan 551 (2) 

Joseph . . 126, 127, 551 (2) 

J.t. Joseph, 94, 95, 97, 127 (2), 

(children), 127, 128 (2), 

143, 162, 166, 180(2), 188, 

530, 558 

Mary 126 

Rebecca 127 

Royal G 549 

Sarah 127 

Spalding, Benjamin 544 

Charles L. . . 549,584(2, 

Charles T. . . . 455 (2) 

Charles W. . 86 (2), 302, 

405, 474(2), 475, 487, 

489, 500 (2), 516, 520, 

544, 549, 557 (4), 561 

Ebenezer . . 95,96, 112; 

children, 112; sketch, 

112, 113; deed, 115, 

116: 128,149,163,173. 

147, 583 

Edward . . 22 (2), 95 (2), 

96, 97, 112; married, 

112; children, 112, 113; 

116, 128, 195, 196, 412, 

485, 549 

Edward, Jr. . . . 112(2) 

Edward A. . . 557, 561, 

584 (2) 

Elizabeth . . . .112 (2) 

Emily 583 

Emily M 584 

Esther 112 



Spalding, Ezekiel 188 

George 584 

George E. 583 

Harold M 584 

Helen C 584 

Jacob F. . 364, 544,553 

John L 130 

Levi . . . 112, 198, 257 

Lot 295 

Lucy 112 

Mary 163 

Mary M 516 

Ned 584 

Phineas . 95 (2), 96, 143 

Reuben . . 232, 234, 248, 

253, 268, 296, 302 (2), 

312, 319, 374, 544, 559, 

583 (3) 

Reuben, Jr. . . 296, 302 

(2), 557 (2) 

Reuben, 2d .... 583 

Reuben, 3d .... 583 

Reuben, 4th ... . 583 

Reuben, 5th ... . 584 

Reuben Leander, 583, 584 

Robert Laton . . .584 

Sarah 112 

Sarah E 584 

Sarah Maria . . 584 (2) 

Susan 474 (2) 

Warren 364 

Williard . . 446, 493, 516 

Zaccheus . . 95, 163, 185 

Spear, Rev. Charles C, 442(2), 443 

Thompson 544 

Spooney, Edward 71 

Sprague, benjamin F 461 

Oliver 271 

Sprake, Captain 223 

Jonathan 544 

Oliver 303, 544 

Springer, Sanford S 525 

Squandon 52 

Stark, George 563 (2) 

Gen. John . 257, 259 (4), 260 



642 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Starkweather, Rev. Mr. . . .429 

Stearns, Ephraim 544 

Ezra S., researches . . 55 

Onslow 564 (2) 

William 550 

Steele, Allen 281 

Charles . . 290, 544 557 (2) 
Charles A. . . 550, 557 (2) 
Fred G. . . . 124 (2), 550 
Frederick . . 519, 544, 550 
George S. . . 124 (2). 550, 
557 (2) 

John 563 (2) 

Joseph . . 151 (2), 154, 215, 
223, 234, 295, 298, 319 

Samuel 271 

Silas T. . . 124 (2), 376, 550 

S. Alphonso 544 

Thomas 90 

William . 151,154,215,234 
295, 298, 319 

Stetson, Rev. Henry 441 

Stevens, Aaron F. 276 

Augustus G 565 

Ebenezer 142 

Eleazer 141 

Enos 563 (3) 

George A. 550 

Reuben . . . .149, 173 

Sarah 126 

Stephen .... 147, 149 

Stewart, Albert A 550 

Robert . 205, 206 (2), 214, 

232, 234, 237, 294, 

310, 318 

Robert S. 544 

Stickney, Abigail 310 

Thomas 260 

Stoddard, Rev. Sampson . 183 (4) 

Charles F 565 

Rev. Isaiah .... 435 

Rev. Joseph . . 439, 440 

(3), 660 

Straw, Ezekiel A 564 (2) 



Strickland, Rev. John, 200 (2), 208, 

210, 214. 428 

Sullivan, John . . . .544,562(2) 

John D 525 

Patrick H 504 

Swan, Mercy 99 

Swett, Rev. C. U 442 

Symmes, Capt. John 27 

Rev. William ... 63, 67 

Talbot, Rev. William K. . 429, 430 
(3), 442 (2) 

Tallant, Abiather 256 

John 217, 492 

Tappan, Mason W 276 

Tarbell, David . 22, 232, 234, 239, 
296, 300 (2), 319. 491, 492 

Tarbox, Aaron 215, 297 

Betsey 573 

Ebenezer . . 148, 151 (3), 

154, 234, 319 

Henry . 148, 154, 234, 248, 

271, 319, 577 

John 388 

Mehitable 297 

Sarah 297, 577 

Susannah 582 

Tardy, John 550 

Tash, Capt. Thomas 229 

Taylor, riarnabas 434 

Charles W 546 

Ebenezer 162 

Emma M 521 

Henry 281 

John . 86 (3); children, 86, 

94, 95, 97, 110, 116 (2), 

128,163,188,194,302(3), 

379, 520, 550 

Joseph 227 

Mehitable 434 

Reuben 544 

Thomas 227 

William . . 161, 162, 181, 

192, 234, 379, 487 

William H. . . . 544, 550 



PERSONAL INDEX 



643 



Temple, Christopher 65 

Templeton, Ira 290, 544 

Tenney, Dr. Daniel, 532,533(2), 534 

Edward 319 

Franklin 532 

James . 158, 223, 532, 566 
Jonathan .... 294, 318 

Kimball 532 

Noyes, 419, 532, 555(2), 556 

Dr. Paul . . 222, 297, 305, 

318, 532(2), 533 (3), 535 

Sarah 533 (2) 

Silas 532 

Tetley, Edward B 565 (2) 

Mehitable 434 

Tetro, Francis 285 

Thomas, Mrs. Eliza A 474 

Job F 281, 461 

Pearl T. . . 75, 130, 131, 

194, 550 

Tyler . . 303, 474 (2), 475 

(2), 544 

William Henry ... 281 

Wellington II. . . .544 

Thompson, Benjamin . . 162, 227 

Charles 237 

Dorothy (Blodgett), 175 
Eben . . . 153, 473 (3) 

Fred H 550 

George F 550 

John M., 300, 385, 441, 

442, 443 (2), 544, 556, 

557 (6), 561 (2) 

J. R 473 

Martin V. B. . . . 544 

Matthew 372 

Thome, Albert 550 

Arthur 550 

Charles 550 

Thorning, James C 544 

Mrs. James C. . . . 519 

Thurston, Dorcas 81 

Tinker, John 35, 37 

Mrs. Rebekah . . 450 (2) 

Titcomb, Albert 52 

Simeon 587 



Toby, I.ovewell's pilot .... 00 

Todd, Andrew 203 

Capt. James 228 

Tolles, Emily F 474, 475 

Lucien M., 109, 302, 454 (3), 

474 (2), 475, 477, 518, 544, 

550, 557 (5), 560 

Tolman, Rev. Samuel H., . . 430, 

444(2) 

Tomlinson, Capt. John . . 138,140 

Torrey, Joseph A 523 

Torry, William 32 

Towle, Capt. Joseph 271 

William H. 544 

Towne, Capt. Archelaus . . 257(2) 

Towns, Foster 554 

Hannah 434 

Joseph W. 544 

Trevette, Capt. James .... 271 

Trimble, John 473 

Trow, Arthur A 550 

George W. . . 544, 557 (2) 

Richard 544 

Wallace G 550 

Trufant, Albert 550 

John M 550 

Trull, Christopher B 550 

Turner, John 364, 544 

Tuttle, Eben 277 

Hiram A 564 

Twiss, Daniel L. 550 

George W 550 

Howard 550 

Walter 550 

Tyler, Francis O. . . 457, 470, 550 

Moses 402 

Tyng, Benjamin . 143, 162, 181 (2) 

Dudley 295 

Col. Eleazer . 71 (2), 72 (4), 
73, 108 (2), 181 

Col. John 295 

Capt. Jonathan . 18, 40, 42 

(3), 124, 130, 181 

Capt. William .... 137 



644 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Underwood, Aquilla . . .129 (2) 

John W. . . 446, 454 

Mrs. John W. . . 454 

Phineas, 121, 293, 294, 

312,401,553,555(2) 

Sarah 84 

Unanunquosett 36, 37 

Upton, Charles R. . . 443, 470, 550 

Rev. John 439 

Timothy 563 

Usher, Robert ... 57, 61, 68, 73 

Vantine, Charles 550 

Varnum, John 203 

Joseph 145 

Mary 105, 106 

Thomas 145 

Vaughan, George, Lt. Governor, 

48(3) 

Vaughn, Henry E 550 

Vinton, Hannah 100, 110 

Vose, George H 550 

Wahhangnowit 91 

Wahawah (Wawa) .... 63. 65 

Waite, John 78 (2), 107 

Walch, Clarence E 523 

Frank A 588 

Waldron, Isaac 22S 

Maj. Richard . . 39, 40 

Walker, Alexander 90 

E. Drusilla 482 

Gerry 525, 550 

Henry E 550 

James 96 

James G. . 449, 521, 550, 

554, 557 

John . 232, 235, 238, 254, 

256, 268 

Joseph 96 

Laurentio E 550 

Robert 96 (2) 

Samuel 309 

Samuel M. . . . 288, 290 

Timothy 562 

William, (Capt.) ... 288 



Walker, William 1 277, 282 

Wallace, Joseph W 289 

Walton, Addie M 591 

George 141, 142 

James D. 544 

Orrin P 592 

Samuel 364 

Waldo P. . . . 520, 544 
554, 560, 566 

Warner, Priscilla 99, 124 

Samuel 99 

Warren, Adams F 544 

Cyrus . 363 (2), 419, 420, 

445, 446, 454, 513 

(3), 514 (2) 

William . 363 (2), 514 (2), 

519 (2), 560 

Watkins, Abner 318 

Watts, Hugh 279, 545 

William H 550 

Wason, Charlotte A 454 

Hannah 182, 532 

Harriet P. . . 454. 455 (2) 

James . . 143, 162, 181 (2), 

182 (2), 190, 193, 203, 

204 (2), 230, 232, 235, 

239, 294, 309 (2), 318, 554 

Margaret 532 

Moses . . 214, 294 (2), 309 

Sally 532 

Samuel, 181, 206, 215, 220, 

232, 235, 237, 240—243, 

245, 246, 254, 261, 268, 

308, 309, 319, 532, 555 

Lt. Thomas . . . 318, 336 

Thomas B. . 158, 206, 215, 

223, 229, 232, 235, 237, 

254, 268, 294, 309, 311, 

336, 414, 415, 493 (2), 

553, 555, 556 (6), 560 

Weare, Mesech . . . 237, 259, 561 

Robert 90 

Webb, John (known as John Ev- 
ered) 35, 37 (3) 



PERSONAL INDEX 



645 



Webber, George K. 550 

Webster, Mrs. Abiah . . .474 (2), 
475, 588 

Adele G 590 

Abigail 585 

Abigail, 2d 585 

Asa, 2d 586 

Benjamin 586 

Betsey 586 

Rev. Brinton M. . . 435, 

443, 590 

Ebenezer .... 585 (3) 

Eleazer C. 587 

Elizabeth 585 

Elizabeth Bradford . 580, 

587 

Ella Frances .... 588 

George Walton . . . 592 

Hannah 585 (4) 

Hannah (Ayer) . . . 585 

Hannah (Cummings),587, 

590, 591 

Ida S. 591 

Israel 585 

Jesse S. . . 407,410,550, 

557 (4), 561 

John . . 545,585 (5), 586 

(2), 587, 590, 591 

John (the immigrant), 545, 

585 

John 585 (3) 

John, J r .... 585,586 
John (3d) .... 586 (2) 
John (4th) .... 586(2) 
John (5th) 587(4), 590, 591 
John C. . . 554, 591 (2) 

Josephine 591 

Julia A 581, 588 

Kimball . 75, 82 ; home- 
stead, 102, 105; 290, 
301, 326, 328 (4), 397, 
404, 407 (3), 410, 424, 
448, 449, 462, 464, 465 
(3), 468 (2), 470 (2), 471. 
474 (2). 475(2), 503, 520, 
545, 550, 553, 557 (4), 
561, 581, 584, 587 (2) 



Webster, Latina Ray .... 588 

Lizzie Jane .... 424, 

474, 588 

Lucy Ann 587 

Louisa U 587 

Mary 585 (2) 

Mary (2d) 585 

Mary (3d) 585 

Mary Cook .... 585 
Mary N. .... 464 (2) 
Mary (Shatswell) . 585 (3) 
Mary Sophia .... 570 
Melville Trevett . . 592 

Milton E 587 

Minnie Louisa . . . 572 

Moses, . . 685 ; second, 

586 ; third, 587 

Moses R. 590 

Nancy 586 

Nathan . .585; second, 

585 

Nathan P. . . . 503, 520, 

522 (2), 523, 545, 561, 

566 (2), 570 (2), 571, 

587, 590 (2), 592 

Orrin P 587 

Rebecca . ,586 (2); sec- 
ond 586 

Sally Hale 587 

Samuel 585 

Sarah 586 

Simon 585 

Sophia 591 

Stephen . . 585 (2); sec- 
ond, 585(2); third, 585 

Susan 590 

Willard H. . . 290, 520, 

566,567,587,591(5), 

592 (2) 

William 585 

Weetamoo 36 

Welch, Henry N. 550 

Weld, Rev. Thomas 56 

Wellman, James 446 



646 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Wells, Edmund J 550 

George F. ...... 456 

John 232, 235 

John S 563 (2) 

Wentworth, Benning . . 147, 149, 

160, 161 

Rev. Daniel I.., 442(2) 

James G 242 

John . 48, 49, 156, 305, 
329, 365, 550, 567 

Joseph 564 

Nathaniel . 179,327, 

329, 407, 471, 545, 

550, 553, 561 

Westbrook, Colonel 50 

Wescott, Rev. Isaac 438 

Weston, James A 564 (4) 

William S. 557 

Wheeler, Mrs. Albee A. . . 474 (2) 

Abigail 77 

David 77 

Dorcas 336 

Josiah K. . 110 (8), 168, 

173; heirs, 307,474(2), 

475 (2), 495, 496, 519(2), 

545, 550, 553, 554, 556, 

557 (3), 560 

Paul J 563 

Sarah 77 

Wheelock, Rev. Mr. . . . 429, 430 
Wheelwright, Rev. John ... 90 
White, Charles . . .521 (2), 550 

Jeremiah 388 

Capt. John 72 

John H 563 

Nathaniel 564 

Whiting, Benjamin 372 

Samuel .... 113, 132 

Samuel, Jr. . . 57, 61, 63, 

68,80 

Whitney, Isaac 71 

Samuel 57 

Zachariah 71 

Whipple, Col. Thomas J. . . . 278 
Gen. William, 259(2), 262 



Whittemore, Benjamin . . 189 (3) r 

192—195, 232, 235, 

246, 256, 268, 3S1. 

382, 384(2), 414, 

415, 487 

Benjamin, Jr. . . 232 

Whittle, John 319 

Ruth 174 

Sarah 102 

Wicomb, Seth 248 

Wiggin, A. C 545 

Wilder, Betsey Stanley (Shaw), 580 

Lizzie S. 580 

Wildes, Frank H. 550 

Wilkins, Cyrus 271 

William H 565 

Wilks, Francis 138 

Willard, Peter E 545 

Williams, Elisha 435 

Jared W 563 (3) 

Roger 43 

Willoughby, Benjamin E., 299, 550 

Edwin 545 

Ethan . . 364,411(2) 

420 (2), 445, 514 (2), 

553, 559 

Harvey M. . . . 550 

Mark . 364, 419, 514 

(2), 545 

Wilshire, Frank 550 

Wilson, Mrs. Clarissa .... 454 
Franklin .... 454, 545 

George 268 

George H 545 

Hiram 550 

James 556 

James, Jr 563 (2) 

James F. . . 186, 206 (2), 
311,446,545,550,557(7) 

John 295 

Joseph . 206 (3), 222, 232, 

235 

Joseph B. . 214, 220, 223, 

294, 313, 318, 362 (2) 



PERSONAL INDEX 



647 



Winn, Abathar 254 

Ahbie E 584 

Abiatha . . . 120, 121, 232, 

235, 238, 242, 268,411, 

445, 513 

Amos 545, 584 

Benjamin . . . 121, 196 (2) 

Electa S 584 

Elizabeth 121 (2) 

Elmer C. . 120 (3), 312, 550 

Frank A 550 

Frank M., 181, 519, 550 (2) 

Rev. Fred E 433 

George H. 513 

Harriet 513 

Capt. Isaac . 179, 362, 519 

Ira E 545 

James 254 

John 545 

Judith 232 

Joseph . 95 (2), 96, 97, 119, 

120 (5), 121, 128, 143, 162, 

190, 196(2), 239,258,260, 

261 (2), 268, 294 (2), 312 

(3), 318, 362, 374, 437, 

455, 481. 484, 485, 487, 

545, 554, 551 

Joseph, Jr. . .119, 120(3); 

childien, 121, 122; 143(2), 

162, 186, 195, 196, 220, 

223, 232, 234, 239, 242, 

294, 312, 4S7 

Joseph (3d) 120 

Joseph (4th) 120 

J oseph Gardner, 281. 455 (2) 

J. Sylvanus 545 

Josephine 522 

Josiah . . 95, 96, 119, 120 

Katherine 121 

Leon E 550 

Lucy M 433 

Margaret 455 

Martha (Blodgett), 119, 120 
Mary 513 



Winn, Mary A 522 (3) 

Micajah 121, 230 

Nathan 121, 295 

Nehemiah . . 254, 256, 268 
Paul Tenney . 120, 312, 545 

Persis A 581 

Persis G. 581 

Reuben 434 

Rufus E. . . . 518 (2), 545, 
550 (2) 

Susanna 121 

Susanna B 513 

Sylvanus 127 

Willard 290 

William 581 

William F. . 433, 522. 545, 

550, 557 (6), 561 

Winslow. Sarah, heirs .... 295 

Wise, Sarah 77 

Wonnalancet, 27, 28 ; captive, 29(2), 
influence over his father, 33 ; 
sacrifice, 35; derivation of 
name, 36; succeeds father, 
36; petition of, 36, 37 (4), 38 
(3); commission of, 38,39; 
conduct, 39 — 41 ; last days, 
— 42; character, 42 — 45; 

treatment of 47 

Wood, Charles . . 298 (2), 390 (2), 

545 

Ebenezer . . 175, 215, 434 

Ella F. 390 

Emma E 390 

Dr. George 294 

George H 550 

George W 545 

George S 364, 545 

Lewis 390 

Polly 434 

William 456 

William G 498 

Woodard, John 163 

Woodbury, Abram . . 451,452 (3), 
453, 454 



648 



HISTORY OF HUDSON 



Woodbury, Fred E 550 

Levi 562 

Mary J 454 

Woods, David 73 

Jonathan 72 

Nathaniel 60, 71 

Thomas 61, 63 

Woodward, Charles M. . 523, 550 
George P. . 525(2), 557 

Lilla J 481 

Quincy A 503 

Worcester, Asa 231 

Franklin P. . . . 565 
J. R. & Co. . . 409,410 

Moses 517 

Moses A 517 

Samuel T 365 

& Son 517 

Worm, Ann 80, 81 

Worthen, Judith 177 

Worthing, A. H. 456 

Wright, Ebenezer .... 95, 129 



Wright, Joseph .... 96 (2), 143 

Sarah 100 

Winkel 199 

Wryn, John 545 

Wyles, William W. 545 

Wyman, Amos 297 

Asa 294 

Charles A 278 

Daniel . . . 232, 237, 268 
Rev. Ebenezer . . .183 
Elbridge ...... 545 

Ezra 268 

Fred 1) 550 

Jerusha 434 

Leonard 223 

Phebe 309 

Seth . 61, 63, 65 (3), 66— 

68, 69 (2), 199, 215, 232, 

235, 237, 241, 295, 298, 

319, 485, 490 

Seth, Jr 295, 29S 

Thomas 235 



